[1288] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
dBASE status
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Public-Access Computer Systems For)
Wed Sep 23 12:28:32 1992
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1992 11:13:39 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
From: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
2 Messages, 39 Lines
*-----
From: "Walt Crawford" <BR.WCC@RLG>
Subject: Re: dBASE status
Re: dBASE and public domain...
dBASE was based on an earlier language, developed at
JPL, which may be considered public domain. That doesn't
mean that dBASE *as a product* is public domain; on
the other hand, the dBASE *syntax and command structure*
might be.
As part of its purchase of Ashton-Tate, Borland abandoned
the lawsuit. They're making considerable capital of the
"openness" of the dBASE "standard" as compared to Lotus'
"closed" 1-2-3 "standard."
But DO NOT assume that dBASE, in any version, is itself
public domain. It almost certainly is *not.*
-walt crawford-
*-----
From: Sanjay_Chadha@library.tmc.edu
Subject: dbase (public domain??)
From what I remember. AT filed an amended petition and an affidavit from
the CopyRight office and the ruling was amended/retracted/modified (I
don't know which). Perhaps someone else can shed more light? Those of
you that have periodicals index (we don't), try searching in PC week and
PC Mag, as they both covered the story as it progressed, so did
infoweek.
Sanjay R. Chadha
sanjayc@library.tmc.edu
HAM-TMC Library, Houston
