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From: "Thumper!" <thumper@vfr.interceptor.com>
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.development.system,comp.unix.bsd.386bsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc,comp.unix.bsd.netbsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc,comp.os.linux.advocacy
Subject: Re: Lesstif vs. the OSF/Motif copyright
Date: Fri, 03 May 1996 09:39:53 -0700
Organization: Interceptor Systems
Lines: 35
Message-ID: <318A36D9.3684@vfr.interceptor.com>
References: <NELSON.96Apr15010553@ns.crynwr.com> <3176D081.794BDF32@FreeBSD.org> <4la318$ah3@sidhe.memra.com> <31794DB6.7DE974DF@lambert.org> <940@crane.ukc.ac.uk> <31866E12.67FD83BE@lambert.org> <4m8k99$o12@master.di.fc.ul.pt> <318978E8.14B8@vfr.interceptor.com> <4mc8v9$fob@s854803.kb.be>
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Danny Backx wrote:
>
> Thumper!,
>
> You wrote that, in your opinion, LessTif is in violation of the Motif
> copyright.
>
> X/Open pushlishes the OSF/Motif specs, which we (the LessTif core) bought.
>
> Doesn't that allow us to build a Motif clone ?
My initial judgement was based on a previous statement by Terry Lambert which
said, in part:
> : They are
> : implementing interfaces which aren't publically documented
> : anywhere (programming books, OSF books, etc.) except in OSF
> : header files and the namelist of OSF libXm.a.
If that is not the case, then I am incorrect, assuming (also) that X/Open
specifically allows you to use the specs they publish to build a compatible
product (and not just to learn how to adapt Motif to work on a given system,
for example).
The basic rule of copyright law is: Unless you have specific permission to
use something for the purpose you are using it for, you are in the wrong.
Again, if I have mis-stated the case regarding Lesstif, I apologize.
(although the inherent explanation I gave is still correct)
Steve
--
Thumper! Leporidae Extraordinhare
thumper@vfr.interceptor.com http://www.interceptor.com/~thumper
"Life is to achieve the impossible"