Re: LYNX-DEV Licensing Bobcat? (fwd)

[Benjamin C. W. Sittler]

On Wed, 12 Mar 1997, Klaus Weide wrote:

> On Wed, 12 Mar 1997, Wayne Buttles wrote:
> 
> > ( For those who don't know, Bobcat is Lynx 2-4-2 modified to run on )
> > ( an 8088 and then enhanced (color, external browser support...).   )
> > 
> > I am not sure how to answer this question.  People do sell computers with
> > lynx installed on them...  Anyone?
> > 
> > I really only take credit for slapping Bobcat together.  NUMEROUS other
> > people own the copyrights to the lynx parts as well as the libraries for
> > video, memory and networking. 
> > 
> > Wayne
> > 
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> >         Can I buy license of Bobcat for single Chip NC?
> > I plan to combine your browser with KLOS + Arachne + Minuet.
> > Is this possible? Who else own the copyright?
> 
> According to file about_lynx/COPYHEADER from the Lynx distribution,
> 
>   "Any licensing or usage questions should be directed to Michael
>    Grobe <address@hidden>."
> 
> [ I don't know whether 2-4-2 predates that file, or wheter that is
> relevant. ]
> 
> I am sure Wayne you are wrapping up the relevant (and probably
> required) information with your zip files, so he was just not reading
> it...
> 
> Depending on what he wants to do, he may already have a licence, the GNU
> Public License.  (assuming that applies to 2-4-2 and your code).  What he
> may or may not do under that licence is spelled out in the file COPYING.

The Lynx code in Bobcat is likely under the license you describe, but
bobcat also includes other (presumably copyrighted) works, including
WATTCP, which are subject to their own licenses and restrictions. 
Developing for DOS without proprietary tools seems to lead inevitably into
the legal morass of a billion not-quite-freeware libraries, utilities,
etc... at least in my experience. Perhaps someday the ELKS (embeddable
Linux) project will progress to the point where this is not the case, but
it sure isn't there yet. 

--
Ben Sittler (not a lawye)

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