🚀 go-pugleaf

sef@kithrup.COM (Sean Eric Fagan) writes:
>Because most of them haven't threatened "free software."  (Yet.)  IBM claims
>that it only patents to encourage cross-liscensing of patents, not to
>prohibit the use of the patented algorithm by people who are not trying to
>cause IBM to pay money for patent infringement.  (If you can parse that,
>more power to you 8-).)  While I don't really believe IBM is that
>altruistic, I know of no behavior counter to that.  Similarly for DEC, MIPS,
>etc.

I'd be interested in knowing for sure about MIPS...

There is an unsupported Modula-2 compiler from DEC for both the VAX and the
MIPS processors.  The VAX version comes with full source.  The MIPS version
is executables for ULTRIX only.  (The VAX version is currently freely 
copyable.  The MIPS executables are freely copyable.)

When asked if the source for the MIPS version is available, joel@wrl.dec.com
said:

"Eventually the MIPS version may be available in source.  It may not.  There
may be legal problems in freely distributing the source to software that
generates MIPS u-code."

I'd like to really know if MIPS is trying to restrict such programs.

--Phil