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

[Dave Froble]

On 12/13/2021 3:17 PM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
> On 12/12/21 7:34 PM, chris wrote:
>> On 12/10/21 20:12, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
>>> On 12/10/2021 10:46 AM, chris wrote:
>>>> If you are a developer, you should try to walk the walk in terms
>>>> of ethics and try to do the right thing. In the real world though,
>>>> people will do whatever needs to be done to find a solution if there
>>>> seems to b an insurmountable obstacle.
>>>>
>>>> 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...
>>>
>>> I don't think there is much ethical dilemma here.
>>>
>>> There should be no doubt that following the law is the etical
>>> solution here.
>>>
>>> Arne
>>>
>>
>> Well, that's my whole point, but if no license is available from the
>> original vendor, or they have ceased to exist, the user should stop
>> using the product, irrespective of the effect on their business ?.
>>
>> Imho, it's a gross breach of good faith and trust for a vendor to
>> provide no means of continuance in such cases...
>>
>
> Companies come and go.  Most don't want to fail, but it happens.
> But I hardly think it is their fault that a customer doesn't take
> appropriate actions to protect their future.  Back in my mainframe
> days we used to have COOP plans.  Now, they were more targeted at
> disasters like 9/11 but the idea is sound for even less disastrous
> situations.  If one sees a possibility (no matter how vague) of a
> situation that could result in their demise they really should make
> the effort to plan for it.  And those plans should be updated and
> maybe even movced up in priority if the vagueness seems to be fading
> and the threat seems closer.

I guess it's useless.  There are some, (like those against Cobol), who will 
never admit that a vendor has a moral, if not legal, responsibility to customers.


-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
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