[Info-vax] Licenses on VAX/VMS 4.0/4.1 source code listing scans

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 12/10/2021 12:54 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
> On 12/10/2021 10:46 AM, chris wrote:
>> The other point is, do the original owners really care enough, or
>> even at all, when so much licensed software is out there and is
>> obsolete and no longer sold ?. Similar case here, where I was trying
>> find detail on the write boot block code for early SunOs for historical
>> purposes. Found the complete source cd online and was able to complete
>> the task. No profit involved, other than keeping some old machines
>> alive.
>>
>> Ethical dilemmas everywhere in life and we all have to make our
>> own choices...
> 
> If one is willing to pay for something, but there is no one available to 
> pay, than what?  Either one does without, or, one does whatever is 
> necessary.  While there may be those who feel I should just do without, 
> I do not agree with them.
> 
> Case in point.  We at Consolidated Data insist that all our customers 
> have support for their commercial use VMS systems.  That is our ethics.  
> However, should the time come when there is nobody to pay for such 
> support, and the license terminates, and VMS stops working, then I will 
> bypass the licensing to keep my customer in business.  That is my ethics.

I really don't get that.

If the same customers needed a loan and the bank said no would
bank robbery be justified?

I don't think so.

I also somewhat doubt that those companies would agree to run their
business on illegal software.

Arne