*BSD News Article 33486


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From: paul@isl-gate.elsy.cf.ac.uk (Paul)
Subject: Re: BSD lawsuit question.
Message-ID: <1994Jul30.131406.24255@cm.cf.ac.uk>
Sender: paul@isl-gate.elsy.cf.ac.uk (Paul)
Organization: ELSYM, University of Wales, College of Cardiff, UK.
References: <1994Jul24.205056.23692@cc.usu.edu> <michaelv.775146623@ponderous.cc.iastate.edu> <CtJov8.J6y@cogsci.ed.ac.uk>
Date: Sat, 30 Jul 1994 13:14:04 +0000
Lines: 29

In article <CtJov8.J6y@cogsci.ed.ac.uk>,
Richard Tobin <richard@cogsci.ed.ac.uk> wrote:
>In article <michaelv.775146623@ponderous.cc.iastate.edu> michaelv@iastate.edu (Michael L. VanLoon) writes:
>>No, all copies of *FreeBSD* will have to be removed, because FreeBSD
>>1.x is based on the BNR2/4.3BSD code, which is legally encumbered.
>
>No, the FreeBSD will have to remove all their copies of FreeBSD,
>because they have agreed with USL to do so.  No-one who hasn't made

Not really true. Walnut Creek must remove all versions of FreeBSD
based on Net/2 but no-one else has to. The core group is sincerely
hoping that most ftp sites will NOT remove FreeBSD since there's
no legal obligation on anyone besides Walnut Creek (and on or two
others who signed USL agreements) to do so.

Of course, many ftp sites may decide to delete the code anyway just to be
on the safe side but there's really no need to do so. About the worst that
can happen is you'll get a letter from USL threatening you at which point
it probably would be prudent to delete it but otherwise there's no
problem with distributing it.

FreeBSD is a OS not a legal entity and therefore has not had any legal
dealings with anyone. Walnut Creek, a CDROM supplier, is a company and is
free to sign any deals with whoever it wishes to. What WC does has no
effect on enyone else.
-- 
  Paul Richards, FreeBSD core team member.
  Intelligent Systems Laboratory, ELSYM ,University of Wales, College Cardiff
  Internet: paul@isl.cf.ac.uk,  JANET(UK): RICHARDSDP@CARDIFF.AC.UK