*BSD News Article 2393


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Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd
Path: sserve!manuel!munnari.oz.au!cs.mu.OZ.AU!pmiach
From: pmiach@mullian.ee.mu.OZ.AU (Paul Miach)
Subject: Re: AT&T sues BSDI
Message-ID: <pmiach.711973990@munagin>
Sender: news@cs.mu.OZ.AU
Organization: Computer Science, University of Melbourne, Australia
References: <ROB.92Jul20165225@hanalei.berkeley.edu> <1992Jul21.030532.10307@kithrup.COM> <1821@adagio.UUCP> <1992Jul24.064922.8448@newshost.anu.edu.au>
Distribution: aus
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 10:33:10 GMT
Lines: 47

clement@arp.anu.edu.au (CJ Canon) writes:

>My 2 cents (wirth) worth:

>  It seems to me that Ma Bell is annoyed with BSDi, because it needs a test 
>case to prove that it can do what it wants with UNIX, the name UNIX, and any 
>derivatives of same. That of course includes killing off (or buying out, 
>maybe?) smaller companies. Seems to be just a tad on the monopoly side,
>doesn't it?
> 
>  I'd like to know why Ma hasn't gotten the claws pointed at the Jolitz' port.
>The reasoning behind this lack might show some of the logic (if any) of the 
>current suit.

>Comments, anyone?

	The reason to me is simple, Linux, 386BSD and NET 2 are all free, where
as BSDI is _SELLING_ a product.
	I think AT&T is taking the view that if someone is going to buy a UNIX,
they _WILL_ pay for a licence. BSDI has the potential to claim most of the
80x86 market for UNIX, and AT&T will see no money from the venture. The free
UNIX's will never be much more that a 'hackers' product (no offence to anyone,
just that companies will no use unsupported products).
	Another point might be to consider companies with BSD derived UNIX, I
am sure that if BSDI was allowed to procced, a few of them will invest money to
remove AT&T code, and save themselfs a fortune on license fees. This would hurt
AT&T.
	As for what you can do... Buy BSDI before AT&T stops them, it might only
be a BETA release, but you can have a nice warm feeling of giving BSDI money to
fight AT&T.
	People within the UNIX community might try to supply similar methods
to those used by AT&T. For example, NFS is owned by SUN, but used in some SysV
releases? The Melbourne Uni Quota System (free plug!) could have been said to
inspire resource allocation/restrictions in the AT&T product. X windows in
owned by MIT, but used in SysV. If the people(s) who's idea's are used in AT&T's
UNIX were to be a selfish as AT&T are, then AT&T might be willing to drop the
BSDI thing (fat chance tho').
	Also another question, what will happen to POSIX? Is it not a little
stupid that a government standard be based (I don't know to much about POSIX)
upon a propreitary product?

>CJ

Paul Miach.

PS.	Substitute USL for AT&T where ever you think I need it. Also, sometimes
	I don't know what I am talking about :-).