Subject: Kermit is NOT freely distributable
From: [email-masked] (Linus Torvalds)
Date: Wed, 1 Jun 1994 20:28:33 GMT
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce

I got a mail from Frank da Cruz (author of C-kermit) today, in which he
pointed out that the copyright on kermit does not allow commercial
distribution without written permission of Columbia University's Office
of Kermit Development and Distribution.  I'm afraid this probably means
most of the linux CD-ROM distributions (and other commercial
distributions) are probably in violation of that copyright. 

As the kermit team gets the money used for development by selling books
and distribution fees and the like, they obviously wouldn't be exactly
thrilled about this (aside from it not being ethical, money or no
money).  I have to admit to not having been aware of the copyright
restriction myself (I always thought C-kermit was "just there", silly
me, but then I don't make commercial distributions either). 

Anyway, I hope the commercial distributions will either remove their
kermit distributions or contact Columbia University soonest.. 

		Linus
--
Mail submissions for comp.os.linux.announce to: [email-masked]
Be sure to include Keywords: and a short description of your software.