[HECnet] TOPS-10/20 copyright status

[Cory Smelosky]

On Sat, 15 Nov 2014, Johnny Billquist wrote:

This is the state of TOPS-20 at the moment. It is being used as embedded software, that you'll never see, or hear of. But it's still alive.


I am very interested in the embedded use of TOPS-20, do you happen to know of a specific (documented...I want to know all about the thing if it runs TOPS-20!) product using it?

But more broadly speaking, any kind of software have the same issue. Just because you do not see it used anywhere does not mean this is not the case. Assuming noone cares anymore just because you cannot find it used anywhere does not work. And even when noone actually do not care anymore, it is still sad when it is assumed that you can take liberties based on that assumption.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not condemning those who want to run cool software, or play with odd technology, and feel that there is no legal way of doing that. I just dislike when people try to present it in a way that make it sound like it was actually legal/ok/right.

	Johnny



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Cory Smelosky
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