In a message dated 3/10/99, 0606 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>
> It was never proven that Nord><Link ripped them off. There was no way to prove
> it....... I was so happy to see the first public release of TheNet, v1.0, by
> Nord><Link.... I feel that I was ripped off by the software company from
> which I purchased several eproms containing their proprietary NETROM code. It
> was overpriced, and never worked well. I have been a staunch user of TheNet
Actually it was proved that TheNet was a rip-off of NET/ROM. I remember that in the
late 80s that Software 2000 submitted their source code for comparison to TheNet source
code. I think Phil Karn was the neutral third party, but I may be wrong. The conclusion
was that TheNet was a straight copy of NET/ROM, the only differences being that the
names of variables and functions were different, and the calling order was reversed. I
remember that John G8BPQ also submitted his code to Software 2000 at that time to get
the official seal of approval from them, he did.
I have no problem with people making money from software, after all its my trade, and
is is what I do professionally. In particular I had no problem with NET/ROM since they
chose to provide full protocol information in their manual. Implementing it was not
difficult.
My objection is to systems that don't release specifications. Such things have no place
in amateur radio IMNSHO.
Jonathan HB9/G4KLX
