KIM/MOS-Tech - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

2 Sep 1998

...
 >> (Caveat: until someone comes forward to claim
legitimate ownership.) 
...
 > Jup, but acording to your ridiculous justice this
means
> bancrupcy for the next 3 generation to anyon of 'Us'. 
...
  Not necessarily.  I think some of this old technology
could arguably be
 considered in the public domain, with companies having folded, owners
 having died, etc.  Case in point: the IMSAI 8080.  I think whatever
 vestiges of ownership of the IMSAI 8080 have been lost to time after the
 transformation into ComputerLand, the subsequent bankruptcy and then the
 re-birth of ComputerLand as Vanguard.  This is what I gather after having
 read the book _Once Upon a Time in Computerland_.  
In terms of copyright there is no thing like
'lost ownership' Copyright (and other intelectual
property) is always originated by natural persons,
And if any kind of licencee (company, temopral owner)
is closed and no legal successor is available the rights
return to the original Author/Inventor.

...
  Also, who owns the rights to the Altair 8800 now? 
Percom?  ICOM?  Ed
 Roberts?  WHat happened after all the buyouts and bakruptcies? 
Don't know, but they are not free.

Sad but true.

Gruss
H.

--
Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut
HRK