PDP-11 Software (Was: Mentec)

To answer a few details in short. PDP-11 licenses (alteast RSX, and I believe all of them) are bound to a specific customer. So they don't transfer along with the hardware. However, DEC did have a license transfer program. It wasn't expensive, and I used it at my end back when DEC still existed. I think it was still possible to transfer licenses after Mentec bought the software and DEC still sold it. What the exact status of this is right now, I don't know. Haven't asked. As for Jay West and Jerome Fine's claims that it's all right just because Mentec haven't set any lawyers on their backs must stand for them. I don't think it's okay, and furthermore, I don't think their claims that it's OK because they think that Mentec knows a lot of things will hold much water if it went to court. But that's just my thoughts. And yes, I do speak with Mentec on business matters from time to time, so I'm not totally unaware of what they do. If Jay West happens to know for a fact that Mentec is aware of the discussions here, and furthermore, have proof that people here are running their software without a license, and choose to not do anything about it, then I think it would be a good thing for him to actually say so, since it actually would strengthen his case against Mentec, if it ever came to that. By playing the "it's not something we're willing to discuss in public" is just idle talk, since it's in fact more supporting of what I'm saying than what he is. But I'll leave it here. No point in arguing. Everyone have to decide for them self. I do notice that noone have yet publicly admitted to violating Mentecs IP rights. Johnny -- Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus || on a psychedelic trip email: bqt at softjar.se || Reading murder books pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol