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

[Simon Clubley]

On 2019-11-21, Bill Gunshannon <bill.gunshannon at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 11/21/19 7:59 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
>> 
>> First, I'm guessing there were more VAX licenses issued than all the 
>> rest combined.  DEC sold the licenses.  They were perpetual, even if 
>> only for the system and customer.  Not sure how many exist.
>> 
>> Is it legal?  Well, some might argue that DEC is no longer around to 
>> suffer harm.  Then the question might be, is it better for things to no 
>> longer exist, or, is it better for some harmless use to be obtained from 
>> them?  If some owner of the IP was still attempting to get revenue from 
>> them, then no, it is not legal.  That isn't happening.
>> 
>> Hell, Trump is legal, even if he's a lying, back stabbing asshole ....
>> 
>> Please don't get me started ....
>> 
>> As for getting caught?  Most likely no chance of that.  First the entity 
>> bring charges would need a copy of the license to prove it was theirs. 
>> Figure the odds of such paperwork still existing.  After the move to 
>> Compaq, then HP, very small chance.
>> 
>> If one was to just start typing and just by chance the LMF allowed that 
>> the random typing worked, is that stealing?  One might cry out 
>> "copyright".  I've got to wonder if the copyright is in the executibles. 
>>   I know it's in DCL command procedures.  Don't use them.
>> 
>> 
>
> Arne,
>
>   I rest my case.
>
> bill
>

Even if David doesn't care about the legal issues, I hope he realises
that comments like this harm the chances of a VSI hobbyist program
ever existing when people look at the above types of comments and
wonder if trying to provide free access to VMS to hobbyists is worth it.

Simon.

-- 
Simon Clubley, clubley at remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
Walking destinations on a map are further away than they appear.