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Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd Path: sserve!manuel!munnari.oz.au!mips!mips!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!uunet!algor2.algorists.com!jeffrey From: jeffrey@algor2.algorists.com (Jeffrey Kegler) Subject: Best Reaction to AT&T Suit == Join LPF Reply-To: jeffrey@algor2.algorists.com (Jeffrey Kegler) Organization: Algorists, Inc. Date: Fri, 24 Jul 92 01:39:57 GMT Message-ID: <1992Jul24.013957.10852@algor2.algorists.com> References: <3152@algor2.algorists.com> <1390200001@trsvax> Lines: 43 I should add IMHO to the above, but I like to keep subject lines short. :-) You can contact the League for Programming Freedom as shown below. I believe the LPF is the best instrument for reacting to these situations. I am proud to be a member. Joining the LPF now would 1) send a message; 2) not commit us prematurely to anything; 3) strengthen us against future similar threats. I have down-loaded the legal docs from uunet and the matter looks complex. Some have suggested we rush out and boycott AT&T. I would suggest the following considerations. 1) AT&T's hints of wide ranging legal action are so far just that -- strong hints. Perhaps our response should be proportional. 2) Issues central to AT&T v. BSDI are not so central to our concerns. For example, the question of whether an 800-ITS-UNIX number violates AT&T's trademark is one which, if the suit were limited to it, I would be glad to leave up to the courts. Therefore: 3) Before engaging in a boycott or any other action, we should clarify exactly what our grievance is, and in what respect (if any) we object to the AT&T suit. Again, I think the LPF is the best way to do this. Here follows contact information for LPF from uunet!~/doc/lpf/lpf.join.Z: > If you have any questions, please write to the League, phone > (617) 243-4091, or send Internet mail to league@prep.ai.mit.edu. > Jack Larsen, President > Jack Larsen can be contacted at (708) 698-1160; Fax (708) 698-6221. > To join, please send a check and the following information [ questionnaire > ommitted for space -- JK ] to: > > League for Programming Freedom > 1 Kendall Square #143 > P.O.Box 9171 > Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 -- Jeffrey Kegler, Independent UNIX Consultant, Algorists, Inc. jeffrey@algor2.ALGORISTS.COM or uunet!algor2!jeffrey 137 E Fremont AVE #122, Sunnyvale CA 94087