[Info-vax] Unix on A DEC Vax?

[Paul Sture]

In article <kdc8bu$bih$1 at dont-email.me>,
 Stephen Hoffman <seaohveh at hoffmanlabs.invalid> wrote:

> On 2013-01-18 14:36:07 +0000, David Froble said:
> 
> > To me, the real problem was the lack of insistence by customers in the 
> > past that they have some protection.  A refusal to purchase VMS (and 
> > therefore DEC computers) without some assurance that the software could 
> > survive the company might have provided a totally different outcome. 
> > Using 20/20 hindsight, I can imagine this software being available for 
> > maintenance, development, and such similar to today's "open" software.
> 
> I'm aware of various projects which have had escrow requirements.
> 
> IIRC, DEC did offer a VMS source code license an aeon or two ago, but 
> that was reportedly very expensive; around US$25,000.  Whether anybody 
> bought one, or what the terms might be?

Back in the 1970s and 1980s escrow was a common requirement when dealing 
with corporate or government bodies.  For the more complex products, 
good luck with that unless you can recruit someone who has worked in the 
original development teams.

-- 
Paul Sture