Please remove PD-YACC sources from your machine IMMEDIATELY

[Barnacle Wes]

In article <4775 at killer.UUCP>, chasm at killer.UUCP (Charles Marslett) writes:
> In article <4765 at killer.UUCP>, richardh at killer.UUCP (Richard Hargrove) writes:
> > It would seem that if AT&T were concerned about names and algorithms
> > that they would have attempted to stop the MKS yacc distribution
> > since a) the tool is named yacc, and b) it demonstrates a very high 
> > degree of compatibility with Unix yacc (implying that the underlying
> > algorithm(s) are the same).
> 
> Actually, I seem to recall that the MKS version of yacc is in fact a
> licensed port of the real AT&T yacc -- I do not remember why or who led
> me to this belief, is there any contradictory (or supporting) information
> out there to clear up the confusion?  That would clear up why AT&T is not
> after them!

Yes, most of the tools MKS produces are (debugged, well-ported) licensed
versions of gin-yoo-ine AT&T products.  AT&T has a bbs-like system you
can call into to look and see what's available.  You can buy the source
to many programs, like yacc and the new awk, for very reasonable prices
for private use.  I remember the source to the new awk was something
like $300.  If, on the other hand, you want to re-sell it, the price
goes up quite a bit.  I think 'new awk' was $10,000 for a redistribution
license.

In summary, yes AT&T does license their code to other systems houses.
The operative word here is license.  You can distribute the binaries of
your port(s) of AT&T programs i_f_ _y_o_u_ _b_u_y_ _t_h_e_ _l_i_c_e_n_s_e_ _f_o_r_ _i_t_.  If you
don't buy the license, you are violating AT&Ts copyrights.
-- 
                     {hpda, uwmcsd1}!sp7040!obie!wes
           "Happiness lies in being priviledged to work hard for
           long hours in doing whatever you think is worth doing."
                         -- Robert A. Heinlein --