28 Nov
2025
28 Nov
'25
12:18 p.m.
On Nov 28, 2025, at 2:32 AM, Rod Smallwood via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
On 28/11/2025 04:10, Chris Hanson via cctalk wrote:
Technically that is not accurate. While DEC is no longer a standalone company, its
property still has an owner, but nowadays that's either VSI, HP, or XX2247 depending
on which parts you're talking about.
paul
On Nov 27, 2025, at 9:45 AM, Peter Ekstrom via
cctalk<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
Ok, so there basically isn't a truly legit
and ethical way to run it as a
hobbyist.
There is not a legal way to run it unless you acquired a perpetual
license to run it on that system before DEC/Compaq/HP stopped selling such licenses.
Whether it is *moral* or *ethical* to run it is independent of whether it is *legal* to
run it, and a poor analogy such as one likening running it to stealing a car will not help
much in making up your own mind about such things.
— Chris I worked for DEC for 10 years. They were the best
company I ever worked for or with
They were altruistic, kind and generous. They loaned out hardware and software all the
time.
I am English and to an extent therefore somewhat can claim to have an indpendant
view.
Here I will make a non-detrimental comment.
The US is dollar driven and uses its laws for business advantage when it can.
The most famous British judge Lord Denning always said.
"This is not a court of law but a place of justice, fairness and truth"
DEC has (sadly) been gone for 25 years.