*BSD News Article 2284


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Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd
Subject: Re: AT&T vs. BSDI --> 4.3BSD-NET2 distribution requires AT&T license!!!
Path: sserve!manuel!munnari.oz.au!network.ucsd.edu!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!think.com!unixland!rmkhome!rmk
From: rmk@rmkhome.UUCP (Rick Kelly)
Organization: The Man With Ten Cats
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 15:18:00 GMT
Reply-To: rmk@rmkhome.UUCP (Rick Kelly)
Message-ID: <9207221021.53@rmkhome.UUCP>
References: <l6nibgINNje6@neuro.usc.edu> <1992Jul21.122530.23497@resonex.com>
Lines: 26

In article <1992Jul21.122530.23497@resonex.com> michael@resonex.com (Michael Bryan) writes:
>How long has the NET2 distribution (and other AT&T-void sources) been
>available?  If this is indeed the first legal action that AT&T/USL has
>taken, perhaps a point in BSDI's favor is that AT&T has waited until
>now to protest.  The NET2 distribution was no secret, nor were the
>various projects which are based upon it (especially Jolitz's 386BSD
>and BSDI's BSD/386).
>
>It obviously reeks of someone saying "Omigawd, these BSD systems are
>actually becoming popular, and we might lose our stranglehold!  Quick,
>do something!"  I certainly hope that the courts tell them where they
>can stuff it.
>
>Of course, I don't have a lot of faith in our legal system's ability
>to do sensible things in the realm of software...

There are two interesting things to consider here.

1.  Mt Xinu, NeXT, and others who are selling BSD on top of Mach or in
    some other form, are all doing it under AT&T licences.

2. AT&T is probably trying to clear a path for Destiny (SVR4.2) sales.

-- 

Rick Kelly	rmk@rmkhome.UUCP	unixland!rmkhome!rmk	rmk@frog.UUCP