I’m sorry for posting something serious in this section, but I found no
place that seemed more appropriate.
Micro Focus acquired Attachmate in 2014, which had bought Novell in
2011. In 2010, Novell was found to own the copyright to UNIX during the
SCO v. Novell lawsuit. Micro Focus apparently folded Novell into itself
around late 2016. Thus, Micro Focus is the current owner of the UNIX
copyright.
In 2002, Caldera International (later SCO Group) released Â32-bit 32V
UNIXÂ and Â16 bit UNIX Versions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7Â (none of which were
initially released after 1979) ‘under a 4-clause BSD license as open
source’
(http://www.groklaw.net/articlebasic.php?story=20040224035032116). Going
through the Asset Purchase Agreement on Groklaw, it is highly dubious
that Caldera was allowed to license Ancient UNIX in the first place.
Does Micro Focus recognize the Caldera License?
The license includes this text: ÂAll advertising materials mentioning
features or use of this software must display the following
acknowledgment: This product includes software developed or owned by
Caldera International, Inc. Given that Novell was found to own the UNIX
copyright, the advertising clause misrepresents the facts of UNIX
copyright ownership. Additionally, the advertising clause makes the
Ancient UNIX code unfortunately incompatible with the GNU GPL. Does
Micro Focus have any intention of relinquishing the advertising
clause?
Finally, it has been over a decade and a half since the open source
release of those UNIX versions. There are still a number of historically
important UNIX operating systems that are currently unobtainable under
any kind of license. Does Micro Focus have any intention of making
available source code licenses, under whichever terms, for UNIX System
III (1982, 37 years ago), PWB/UNIX 2.0 (1981, 38 years ago) and PWB/UNIX
1.0 (1977, 42 years ago)?
UNIX turns 50 years old this year. It would be wonderful if these
uncertainties could be clarified.
–
maxlorlax
maxlorlax’s Profile: https://forums.novell.com/member.php?userid=174708
View this thread: https://forums.novell.com/showthread.php?t=511317