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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 :-).