[Info-vax] State of the OpenVMS hobbyist program?

[Bill Gunshannon]

On 11/21/19 6:17 PM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
> On 11/21/2019 5:56 PM, Jan-Erik Söderholm wrote:
>> Den 2019-11-21 kl. 23:43, skrev Arne Vajhøj:
>>> On 11/21/2019 11:05 AM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
>>>> On 11/20/19 9:59 PM, Robert A. Brooks wrote:
>>>>> On 11/20/2019 9:31 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
>>>>>> Perhaps HPe will turn over to VSI all VMS stuff they have, 
>>>>>> including the HP versions, which would include VAX and the 
>>>>>> hobbyist program.
>>>>>
>>>>> We have the VAX sources, and could, if we wanted to, build
>>>>> a VSI version of OpenVMS VAX.
>>>>>
>>>>> We are not going to do that.
>>>>>
>>>>> Period.  End of discussion.
>>>>
>>>> I can't believe anyone seriously expects a new or even a re-badged
>>>> version of VMS for the VAX.  Just a license key to allow it and its
>>>> layered product to continue to run.
>>>
>>> The reality seems to be that:
>>> * VSI can not legally produce a license (commercial or hobbyist)
>>>    for a non-VSI VMS version
>>> * there is no business case for producing a VSI VMS VAX version
>>> with the bottom line that VSI will not produce a hobbyist VMS VAX 
>>> license.
>>
>> The easy "solution" for anyone wanting to run VMS/VAX is to just get
>> any of the old licenses "out there". Noone will ask any questions...
> 
> The two questions:
> * is it legal?
> * are there any risk of getting caught?
> are two different questions.
> 
> I believe/hope that the first question still matters to the
> vast majority of people.

Based on comments from previous (from many moons ago) PDP-11
discussions and here, your belief/hope is probably very misplaced.

bill