Xref: utzoo comp.sys.att:3567 comp.unix.questions:7702 comp.sys.ibm.pc:16587 Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!mtunx!lzaz!lznv!psc From: psc@lznv.ATT.COM (Paul S. R. Chisholm) Newsgroups: comp.sys.att,comp.unix.questions,comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: AT&T vs. CSS (PC/Tools) Summary: what the problem was Keywords: AT&T, lawsuit, CSS, PC/Tools, PC/VI Message-ID: <1383@lznv.ATT.COM> Date: 22 Jun 88 05:04:49 GMT References: <403@mancol.UUCP> <102@dcs.UUCP> <395@hotlr.ATT> <109@dcs.UUCP> <308@marob.MASA.COM> Organization: AT&T Lines: 40 In article <308@marob.MASA.COM>, samperi@marob.MASA.COM (Dominick Samperi) writes: > . . . the article said that AT&T won a settlement against CSS > because CSS "used ideas from UNIX." Source code copying may not have been > the issue. It's my understanding that source license and copyright violations were the problem, not "look and feel". Ideas can't be copywritten. They *can* be patented. (Trivia question: what idea from the early T&R UNIX(R) operating system *was* patented? Answer below.) > The question is: if I develop tools that have the same (or more) > functionality as some of the standard UNIX tools (ls, rm, cpio, tar, etc.), > then can I use the same program names? I can't think of any objection. Those names can't be copywritten, either. They could have been trademarked, but they weren't. (I can see it all now: "grep is a trademark of AT&T":-) > And if not, can I use the word "UNIX" in describing the functionality > of the tools? UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T. I don't know exactly what restrictions that puts on you. (AT&T's official policy is that the word "UNIX" is an adjective, so rather than "UNIX-like", if you use the "U" word, you should say "UNIX system-like". No, repeat, no comment.) > Does MKS have a license from AT&T? Not so far as I know. What's to license? The look and feel of grep? So far as I know, MKS didn't port UNIX system code; they reimplemented the tools. AT&T officially neither approves or disapproves of MKS's work. (Some of us sure do appreciate it, though.) -Paul S. R. Chisholm, {ihnp4,cbosgd,allegra,rutgers}!mtune!lznv!psc AT&T Mail !psrchisholm, Internet psc@lznv.att.com I'm not speaking for my employer, I'm just speaking my mind. I'm not a member of the bar; for legal advice, consult a lawyer. AT&T was awarded a patent for Dennis Ritchie's invention of the set user ID and set group ID bits.