9 May
2007
9 May
'07
7:19 p.m.
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 I understand it, if you can prove the machine is licensed, and that you
have a right to that license you can have it transfered. The trick is
proving the machine is licensed as in many/most cases the necessary
paperwork has been lost and likely no longer exists.
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.
The claims are just plain foolish and dangerous. They don't do anyone any
good, and they could do harm.
Zane