Return to BSD News archive
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd
Path: sserve!manuel!munnari.oz.au!mips!mips!sdd.hp.com!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!yale.edu!yale!mintaka.lcs.mit.edu!hal.gnu.ai.mit.edu!knight
From: knight@hal.gnu.ai.mit.edu (Knight of the Living Dead)
Subject: I wonder, did AT&T backstab BSDI?
Message-ID: <1992Jul28.153750.8395@mintaka.lcs.mit.edu>
Summary: SYSV r4 is quite similar to BSD
Keywords: AT&T speculation lawsuit BSDI
Sender: news@mintaka.lcs.mit.edu
Organization: It doesn't look like much, but its a system.
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 15:37:50 GMT
Lines: 28
As I recall when System 5 Revision 4.0 was released, it was described
(to me, anyway) as an attempt to gain "BSD Compatibility". I'm wondering
if the reason why AT&T held out sueing BSDI this long is so they could
claim copyright of BSD's code/style/look/feel/etc while it was still
popular, and then smash all the competition.
If so, Steve Jobs at NeXT may find MACH being charged with having
unlicenced BSD-like code that is property of AT&T.
I guess it would be impossible to find a copy of AT&T's System 5
source code.. BSD sure got suckered and coldcocked. I'd suggest
bringing in the EFF to help out -- its unfair for small business
to pay thier own court fees against such huge businesses.
I agree with some people that a victory for AT&T could spell the demise
for computer science as we know it currently. U**X really is a great
operating system, the best I ever used.
-- Eric Knight
------------------------------------------------------------------------
These opinions are my own, and my employeer doesn't want me ruining his
life anymore than I absolutely have to.
EBKnight@dockmaster.ncsc.mil
------------------------------------------------------------------------