tef@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU (Thomas Ferrin) (09/27/86)
BSD UNIX Manuals - The Next Chapter
As all members must surely know by now, the USENIX Association-
sponsored production of 4.2BSD UNIX manuals has been an overwhelming
success. There have now been four separate printings since April,
1984 (totaling over 15,000 copies of the five-volume manual set).
Membership response to the manuals has been very favorable, including
such aspects as the new document organization (thanks to Sam Leffler),
the 6"x9" production format, and the inexpensive pricing. With the
long-awaited release of 4.3BSD now official however, a new version of
the manuals is appropriate as well. This article describes the
changes that have been incorporated into the new 4.3BSD manuals, as
well as details like when they will be available and what they will
cost.
Nota Bene - Usenix's commitment to the 4.3BSD edition of manuals means
that there will be NO additional printing runs of 4.2BSD manuals.
Since there are very few 4.2BSD manuals remaining in our inventory
(with the exception of a few hundred UNIX Programmer's Manuals), if
you plan to order these older manuals it is imperative that you do so
immediately. When current inventories of 4.2 manuals are exhausted,
no additional orders for the 4.2BSD version will be accepted.
The 4.3BSD manual sets are significantly different from the 4.2BSD
edition; changes include many additional documents, better quality of
reproductions, as well as a new and extensive indexing system. As
with the 4.2 edition, 4.3BSD manuals are being sold only in sets.
Pricing and ordering details are given below.
Manual Descriptions
The basic composition of the three manual sets is outlined here, with
a detailed description of each volume's contents given later. All
manuals are printed in a photo-reduced 6"x9" format with individually
colored and labeled plastic ``GBC'' bindings. All documents and
manual pages have been freshly typeset in order to provide top quality
reproduction and all manuals have ``bleed tabs'' and page headers and
numbers to aid in the location of individual documents and manual sec-
tions.
User's Manual Set (3 volumes)
Volume 1, User's Reference Manual
Volume 2, User's Supplementary Documents
Volume 3, Master Index
Programmer's Manual Set (3 volumes)
Volume 1, Programmer's Reference Manual
Volume 2, Programmer's Supplementary Documents
Volume 3, Programmer's Supplementary Documents
System Manager's Manual (1 volume)
While some manual sets are three separate volumes, you may only order
complete sets; i.e. you cannot order a Volume 2 of the User's Manual
without also ordering Volumes 1 and 3.
Manual Contents
UNIX User's Reference Manual (URM)
The following sections from Volume 1 of the original UNIX
Programmer's Manuals (UPM): preface, introduction, table of contents,
permuted index, section 1 (commands), section 6 (games), and section 7
(miscellaneous).
UNIX User's Supplementary Documents (USD)
This volume contains documents which supplement the manual pages
in The UNIX User's Reference Manual for the Virtual VAX-11 version of
the system as distributed by U.C. Berkeley, and Volumes 2a and 2b as
provided by Bell Laboratories:
Getting Started
UNIX for Beginners - Second Edition
Learn - Computer-Aided Instruction on UNIX (2nd Edition)
Basic Utilities
An Introduction to the UNIX Shell
An Introduction to the C shell
DC - An Interactive Desk Calculator
BC - An Arbitrary Precision Desk-Calculator Language
Communicating with the World
Mail Reference Manual
The Rand MH Message Handling System
How to Read the Network News
How to Use USENET Effectively
Notesfile Reference Manual
Text Editing
A Tutorial Introduction to the UNIX Text Editor
Advanced Editing on UNIX
Edit: A Tutorial
An Introduction to Display Editing with Vi
Ex Reference Manual (Version 3.7)
Jove Manual for UNIX Users
SED - A Non-interactive Text Editor
AWK - A Pattern Scanning and Processing Language (2nd Edition)
Document Preparation
Typing Documents on UNIX: Using the -ms Macros with
Troff and Nroff
A Revised Version of -ms
Writing Papers with nroff using -me
-me Reference Manual
NROFF/TROFF User's Manual
A TROFF Tutorial
A System for Typesetting Mathematics
Typesetting Mathematics - User's Guide (2nd Edition)
Tbl - A Program to Format Tables
Refer - A Bibliography System
Some Applications of Inverted Indexes on the UNIX System
BIB - A Program for Formatting Bibliographies
Writing Tools - The STYLE and DICTION Programs
Amusements
A Guide to the Dungeons of Doom
Star Trek
Master Index
This volume contains an extensive index which cross-references
all documents and manual pages contained within all six volumes of
4.3BSD manuals. The index was prepared with the aid of an ``intelli-
gent'' automated indexing program from Thinking Machines Corp. along
with considerable human intervention from Mark Seiden. Key words,
phrases and concepts are referenced by abbreviated document name and
page number.
UNIX Programmer's Reference Manual (PRM)
The following sections from Volume 1 of the original UPM: sec-
tion 2 (system calls), section 3 (libraries), section 4 (devices),
section 5 (file formats).
UNIX Programmer's Supplementary Documents, Volume 1 (PS1)
These two volumes contain documents which supplement the manual
pages in The UNIX Programmer's Reference Manual for the Virtual VAX-11
version of the system as distributed by U.C. Berkeley.
Languages in common use (other languages in Programmer's Supplement,
volume 2)
The C Programming Language - Reference Manual
A Portable Fortran 77 Compiler
Introduction to the f77 I/O Library
Berkeley Pascal User's Manual
Berkeley VAX/UNIX Assembler Reference Manual
General Reference
Berkeley Software Architecture Manual (4.3 Edition)
An Introductory 4.3BSD Interprocess Communication Tutorial
An Advanced 4.3BSD Interprocess Communication Tutorial
Programming Tools
Lint, A C Program Checker
A Tutorial Introduction to ADB
Debugging with dbx
Make - A Program for Maintaining Computer Programs
An Introduction to the Revision Control System
An Introduction to the Source Code Control System
YACC: Yet Another Compiler-Compiler
LEX - A Lexical Analyzer Generator
The M4 Macro Processor
Programming Libraries
Screen Updating and Cursor Movement Optimization
UNIX Programmer's Supplementary Documents, Volume 2 (PS2)
Documents of Historical Interest
The UNIX Time-Sharing System
UNIX 32/V - Summary
UNIX Programming - Second Edition
UNIX Implementation
The UNIX I/O System
Other Languages
The Programming Language EFL
Berkeley FP User's Manual
Ratfor - A Preprocessor for a Rational FORTRAN
The FRANZ LISP Manual
Database Management
Ingres (Version 8) Reference Manual
UNIX System Manager's Manual (SMM)
This volume contains manual pages and supplementary documents
related to system operation, administration and maintenance and is
intended primarily for system administrators. The information in
these documents applies to the Virtual VAX-11 version of the system as
distributed by U.C. Berkeley.
Section 8 of the original UPM
System Installation and Administration
Installing and Operating 4.3BSD on the VAX
Building 4.3BSD UNIX Systems with Config
Using ADB to Debug the Kernel
Disc Quotas in a UNIX Environment
Fsck - The UNIX File System Check Program
Line Printer Spooler Manual
Sendmail Installation and Operation Guide
Timed Installation and Operation Guide
UUCP Implementation Description
USENET Version B Installation
Name Server Operations Guide
Supporting Documentation
Bug Fixes and Changes in 4.3BSD
Changes to the Kernel in 4.3BSD
A Fast File System for UNIX
4.3BSD Networking Implementation Notes
Sendmail - An Internetwork Mail Router
On the Security of UNIX
Password Security - A Case History
A Tour Through the Portable C Compiler
Writing NROFF Terminal Descriptions
A Dial-Up Network of UNIX Systems
The Berkeley UNIX Time Synchronization Protocol
Costs
Manual prices are shown below. This cost does not include shipping
and handling from New Jersey, which will depending on the quantity
ordered and distance shipped. Sites ordering manuals will be billed
for postage and handling by the publisher (Howard Press).
Manual Cost*
_______________________________________________
User's Manual (3 volumes) $25.00/set
Programmer's Manual (3 volumes) $25.00/set
System Manager's Manual (1 volume) $10.00/set
* Not including postage and handling or applicable taxes.
Ordering
Manuals will be available on or shortly after November 1st, 1986. To
order, you must return a completed ``4.3BSD Manual Reproduction
Authorization and Order Form'' to the Usenix office along with a check
or purchase order for the cost of the manuals. Order Forms are avail-
able in the Sept/Oct edition of ;login: (scheduled to be mailed to
members on September 24th-26th) or by calling the Usenix office at
(415) 528-8649. You must be a Usenix Association Institutional or
Supporting member to order manuals. Orders will be forwarded to the
publisher after license verification has been completed, and the manu-
als will be shipped to you directly from the publisher.gnu@hoptoad.uucp (John Gilmore) (09/29/86)
tef@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU (Thomas Ferrin) writes: > You must be a Usenix Association Institutional or > Supporting member to order manuals. I've been wondering what my individual membership in usenix is good for -- I can't get the tapes, I can't get the manuals, all I get is junkmail. Is there no way for a 4.2BSD binary licensed (Sun) Unix site to get copies of these manuals? (I'm sure I could ask a friend at a "real company" to get them for me, but now that I'm paying Usenix for the privilege of membership it would be nice to debug the user group a little bit.) I could go to any bookstore and buy System V manuals but it would feel better to just shoot myself instead. -- John Gilmore {sun,ptsfa,lll-crg,ihnp4}!hoptoad!gnu jgilmore@lll-crg.arpa May the Source be with you!
jordan@ucbarpa.Berkeley.EDU (Jordan M. Hayes) (09/30/86)
[ shuffle, shuffle ... where did I put my USENIX hat? Ah ... there
it is ... fits pretty good ... ]
John Gilmore <gnu@hoptoad.uucp> asks:
Is there no way for a 4.2BSD binary licensed (Sun) Unix site to
get copies of these manuals?
See, the problem here is twofold: First, the manuals are licensed
materials -- you have to show your license to get them. So, if you,
John Gilmore, have a valid 4.3 License, you can get a set of manuals.
Since most individuals are not licensed, we usually generalize to the
Institutional members.
Second of all, you don't run 4.3 at all. You don't have a source
license -- all you have is 4.2 binary. Why do you think it costs
so much for a source license (not the actual BSD license, but what you
need to get one, i.e., sysV)?
Man, you *have* manuals -- you got them from Sun when you bought their
system. Buy a vax, buy sysV, buy 4.3 and you can get your manuals for
ony $60/set! Such a deal!
I could go to any bookstore and buy System V manuals but it
would feel better to just shoot myself instead.
Well ...
/jordan
{ucbvax,decvax}!usenix!jordan
ps: why would you want a set of 4.3 manuals (let alone sysV ones)
if you run 4.2 Sun? Never mind ...dyer@spdcc.UUCP (Steve Dyer) (09/30/86)
I agree with John Gilmore here. What good is a USENIX individual
membership if all it gives you are N copies of every UNI-OPS mailing
and an issue of ;login which these days seems to be filled with notes
of long-past board of directors meetings and little else, when the
USEFUL material (i.e. things like 4.3BSD manuals) are restricted to
institutional and "supporting" members?
At the very least, some explanation is is order here. Is this a licensing issue
with AT&T or Berkeley? If so, its logic escapes me and it must be something
new, for I've been able to walk off the street and purchase the USENIX 4.2BSD
manuals at the Harvard Science Center, no questions asked. What's the
necessity of the middleman?
What are the constraints on the USENIX Association which would require
such a policy?
--
Steve Dyer
dyer@harvard.HARVARD.EDU
{linus,wanginst,bbnccv,harvard,ima,ihnp4}!spdcc!dyerchongo@amdahl.UUCP (Landon Curt Noll) (10/01/86)
In article <412@spdcc.UUCP> dyer@spdcc.UUCP (Steve Dyer) writes: >I agree with John Gilmore here. Me too! >At the very least, some explanation is is order here. Is this a licensing >issue with AT&T or Berkeley? If so, its logic escapes me and it must be >something new, for I've been able to walk off the street and purchase the >USENIX 4.2BSD manuals at the Harvard Science Center, no questions asked. >What's the necessity of the middleman? Heck, folks can just plunk down $'s at the CS library at Berkeley can obtain a set of manuals. Thats how I got my 4.2BSD set. Has something happened with 4.3BSD? Why can't Usenix provide a service for folks who can't get to Berkeley? (or even for folks who can?) chongo <> /\oo/\
bzs@bu-cs.BU.EDU (Barry Shein) (10/01/86)
Re: Individuals buying manuals From: jordan@ucbarpa.Berkeley.EDU (Jordan M. Hayes) >See, the problem here is twofold: First, the manuals are licensed >materials -- you have to show your license to get them. >... >Second of all, you don't run 4.3 at all. You don't have a source >license -- all you have is 4.2 binary. Is this true? I don't believe it. You need a full set of licenses qualifying you to own 4.3bsd sources just to buy a printed manual? In the first place, as John Gilmore points out, you can walk into a bookstore and buy a SYSV manual (actually, I've only seen V7 manuals, but surely I don't have to show AT&T a source license to order a few manuals over their 800 number, do I?) In the second place, John's 4.2bsd BINARY license comes with the full manual "sources" on-line. I therefore presume he could print them out for himself if he were so inclined (surely he could buy a cheap laser printer, run off a copy and drag them down to his local copy center for GBC binding and it would all be perfectly legal, I mean for himself or employees, not his going into the business of selling them.) The printer etc would be a lot cheaper than a source license. What is this lunacy? Does anyone know for sure? I've never heard of having to own any license to purchase a printed manual, not for any O/S. Perhaps these were the conditions under which USENIX was allowed to sell these? Weird, maybe they should get a better lawyer. -Barry Shein, Boston University
root@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU (Charles Hedrick) (10/01/86)
Our 4.2 documentation says that it is copyright and can be reproduced only under license. Contrary to what others have said, I don't know of many computer vendors who allow you to reproduce their manuals without charge. However I think that in this case the issue is not one of charge, but of copyright control. I believe that selling these manuals in University bookstores to the public is technically a violation of the license agreement. If you check the various licenses, you will probably find that the University is only allowed to sell manuals to its students and employees. This is carried out by giving the manuals to the bookstore and instructing the manager's pet poodle to make sure that no one other than authorized people buy the manual. The poodle wags its tail, and that is all there is to it. Since it is not very pratical to check for student ID cards when selling manuals, and nobody is damaged by having others get copies, no one worries about any more stringent enforcement. However there are a set of people who if you ask them are required to say that the restriction exists, and who if you notify them of violations may be required to attempt to stop them (on the legal grounds that if somebody knows that their rights are being violated and does nothing about them, they may to a certain extent be considered to be waiving them). This means that if enough of a stink is made about this subject, somebody in ATT may at the very least feel it necessary to notify the poodle that he has not been carrying out his job. I think you will find that the online man pages came on a tape that says it is copyright and refers to your binary license agreement. That agreement almost certainly says that you may produce copies of the documentation only for your own use. The problem as I understand it is that some lawyers are afraid that if you let people reproduce and distribute things without control, you can lose your copyright. This can lead to practices such as vendors asking you to place a notice on the cover saying "Only available to Rutgers students, faculty, and staff", but not to make any attempt to enforce it, or to license fees of $0.01 per copy (not per page -- per copy of the entire document) for which no one bothers to issue an invoice. From what I know of the licensing agreements, Usenix is correctly interpreting them. If I were a Usenix officer, I would continue to follow a strict interpretation of the agreements. Usenix might ask the relevant lawyers how much enforcement they want. Perhaps it could be agreed that it would be enough to say in all announcements that these manuals are available only to users at licensed sites. This would solve the problem of getting things to individual Usenix members. I will not discuss in this forum what I think of a legal system that requires this kind of malarky.
shore@adobe.UUCP (Andrew Shore) (10/01/86)
In article <15867@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> jordan@ucbarpa.Berkeley.EDU (Jordan M. Hayes) writes: >[ shuffle, shuffle ... where did I put my USENIX hat? Ah ... there > it is ... fits pretty good ... ] >... >ps: why would you want a set of 4.3 manuals (let alone sysV ones) > if you run 4.2 Sun? Never mind ... I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS ATTITUDE! Especially from the USENIX "technical consultant". Can you say portable code? I knew you could! I might want manuals for some system I don't own so that I can write code which will compile and run there. I might want to write shell scripts which will run on 4.3BSD. I might want to write Unix utilities (which make system calls or use library routines) which will compile and run on 4.3BSD. My only chance at doing so is having the documentation. If this is the kind of assistance and support you get from USENIX, go with /usr/group. They at least are interested in things like portability and standards. --Andy
ed@mtxinu.UUCP (Ed Gould) (10/02/86)
>>See, the problem here is twofold: First, the manuals are licensed >>materials -- you have to show your license to get them. >>... > >Is this true? I don't believe it. You need a full set of licenses >qualifying you to own 4.3bsd sources just to buy a printed manual? > >What is this lunacy? Does anyone know for sure? I'm not *completely* sure, so maybe I shouldn't be answering at all, but as I remember, the problem is this. The Unix manuals are copyrighted. My copy of the 4.2BSD manual (which is what I have handy - I rember the same phrasing in 4.3) says Copyright 1979, Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated. Holders of a UNIX(TM)/32V software license are permitted to copy this document, or any portion of it, as necessary for licensed use of the software, providing this copyright notice and statement of permission are included. The Usenix Association *does not* have a license for this software. They have an agreement with the Regents of the University of California, specifying that Usenix is the Regents' agent for reproduction of manuals. This agreement specifies that Usenix may sell only to appropriately licensed parties. The agreement was, as I understand it, approved by AT&T. There are some further terms that the purchase of manuals from Usenix entails as well. I remember the order form having some sort of release on it stating that the *purchaser* - in addition to being properly licenses - designated Usenix as its *sole* agent for reproduction of these manuals. (These other terms may have changed, or I may be remembering them incorrectly. It's been a long time since I looked at them.) -- Ed Gould mt Xinu, 2560 Ninth St., Berkeley, CA 94710 USA {ucbvax,decvax}!mtxinu!ed +1 415 644 0146 "A man of quality is not threatened by a woman of equality."
chapman@cory.Berkeley.EDU (Brent Chapman) (10/02/86)
In article <3815@amdahl.UUCP> chongo@amdahl.UUCP (Landon Curt Noll) writes: > >Heck, folks can just plunk down $'s at the CS library at Berkeley can obtain >a set of manuals. Thats how I got my 4.2BSD set. Has something happened >with 4.3BSD? Why can't Usenix provide a service for folks who can't get >to Berkeley? (or even for folks who can?) Several (possible) problems with that now: A) The "CS Library" you refer to, where you used to be able to get manual sets and lotsa other goodies (that's where I got mine), has closed. The "lotsa other goodies" have been divided up among several sources, now, including other campus libraries, the campus bookstore, and a local copy shop. It is unclear what will happen about UNIX manuals. I hope they'll end up at the campus bookstore, but I'm not counting on it. B) The materials, if available, may be restricted to purcchase by staff/students only. I don't think this is likely, though. C) When I got my 4.2 set from the CS Library, I couldn't get the system administrator's manual. I don't know if there is (was) a policy restricting such sales to students, or if they were simply out of the manuals. Brent -- Brent Chapman chapman@cory.berkeley.edu or ucbvax!cory!chapman
mwm@eris.berkeley.edu (Mike Meyer) (10/02/86)
Brent, if you're talking about the CC library, then I can provide answers. In article <419@zen.BERKELEY.EDU> chapman@cory.Berkeley.EDU.UUCP (Brent Chapman) writes: >B) The materials, if available, may be restricted to purcchase by > staff/students only. I don't think this is likely, though. Nope. The CC library will sell to anyone with cash or a CC accounting number (yes, Brent, you could charge manuals to your violet account :-). >C) When I got my 4.2 set from the CS Library, I couldn't get the system > administrator's manual. I don't know if there is (was) a > policy restricting such sales to students, or if they were > simply out of the manuals. The library made a stupid mistake. They didn't think that many people would want them (which is probably correct - anywhere but at a large university) and ordered hundred+ of the basic four, and 22 (count'em, twenty two) of the administrators manuals. The CC staff immediately got those. <mike
bzs@bu-cs.BU.EDU (Barry Shein) (10/03/86)
Hmm, maybe some light is coming through... So, basically my source license (or, as I suspect, binary license tho I'm not sure) says I can make copies for myself and some other folks (like staff) covered under the license agreement. Usenix is not authorized to do this. All they are doing is acting in the same manner as my copy center might, they are relying entirely on *my* license to legitimize their copying of the materials. Unfortunately, that almost makes sense (as much as the laws of man ever make sense...) Oh well, it does seem like someone ought to -ask- AT&T if they would allow a release (and/or UCB, probably "and".) Was this done? At least to the point that anyone with a Binary license could purchase them, if not just anyone. I still find the current situation silly (essentially, Joe Shmoe can not legally buy a 4.x manual), but it's not the only thing... -Barry Shein, Boston University
ron@brl-sem.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>) (10/03/86)
In article <15867@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>, jordan@ucbarpa.Berkeley.EDU (Jordan M. Hayes) writes: > See, the problem here is twofold: First, the manuals are licensed > materials -- you have to show your license to get them. WRONG, you don't need a license to obtain the manuals. You need a licence to have permission to copy. It's only a fine line here. Note you can buy the AT&T manuals in most shopping mall bookstores these days. > Second of all, you don't run 4.3 at all. You don't have a source > license -- all you have is 4.2 binary. Why do you think it costs > so much for a source license (not the actual BSD license, but what you > need to get one, i.e., sysV)? Nowhere in the copywrite notices does it say you need a source license. The copies that came with our binary system (as well as nearly every single UNIX manaul I've ever seen) says ... "Licensees are permitted to copy this document or any portion of it, as necessary for licensed use of the software, provided that this copyright notice and statement of permission are included. Nowhere does either Berkeley or ATT mention source. -Ron
mark@cbosgd.ATT.COM (Mark Horton) (10/03/86)
I thought AT&T put the V7 UNIX manual into the public domain. Since the 4.3BSD manual is derived from 32V->3BSD->4.0BSD->4.1BSD ->4.2BSD->4.3BSD, and since 32V was V7 for the VAX, I don't see what all the fuss is about. It's not like there's System III or System V stuff in the 4.3BSD manual. Is it a legal technicality that the V7 and 32V distributions, while nearly identical, are legally separate? If that's the case, perhaps the problem could be solved by some kind soul out there who has both the V7 and 32V tapes. This person could diff the two on-line manuals and apply the diffs to the 4.3 online manuals, turning a 32V derived manual into a V7 derived manual. (This makes technical sense; I wonder if it makes legal sense?) Mark
tef@socrates.ucsf.edu (Thomas Ferrin%CGL) (10/03/86)
4.3BSD manuals are considered both copyrighted and licensed material and pursant to the AT&T and UCB license agreements can only be reproduced by holders of both an AT&T 32/V or System III or System V license or sublicense AND a University of California 4.3BSD license. When institutional or supporting members of Usenix order manuals they sign a form declaring that they do indeed hold the necessary licenses and that they appoint Usenix Association to act as their agent in reproducing manuals for them. You must be a institutional or supporting member of Usenix because Usenix Association must verify that you do indeed have the license(s) you say you do and "license verification" is one of the benefits of being an institutional or supporting member. The above details were worked out with the AT&T and University of California lawyers before Usenix started reproducing 4.2BSD manuals. At that time AT&T insisted that documentation for UNIX 32/V and its derivatives was covered by the 32/V license agreement; hence the requirement for the apparently over-elaborate procedure described above. The fact that Harvard or UC Berkeley is purportedly selling 4.2BSD manuals to anyone who walks into their bookstores is their business. It can be argued that "times have changed", since System V documentation is no longer tied to a AT&T System V license or sublicense, and that Usenix Association should again explore the legal issuses with both AT&T and UCB regarding restriction of circulation for 4.3BSD manuals. While this option is being considered and the potential legal issuses worked out, however, the current 4.3BSD manual distribution arrangements must remain in effect.
dyer@spdcc.UUCP (Steve Dyer) (10/05/86)
I don't think anyone was expecting that an electronic outcry would by itself
change the USENIX Association's 4.3BSD manual distribution policy. On the
other hand, when one can freely purchase 4.X BSD manuals, presumably illegally,
in college bookstores and the similar V7 and System V documents in mass-market
outlets, it's definitely worth asking what purpose is being served by the
current policy.
Maybe there can be a report on the negotiations with AT&T and Berkeley in an
upcoming ;login: issue?
--
Steve Dyer
dyer@harvard.HARVARD.EDU
{linus,wanginst,bbnccv,harvard,ima,ihnp4}!spdcc!dyermike@hcr.UUCP (Mike Tilson) (10/05/86)
There have been a number of complaints about the fact that the Usenix printing
of the 4.3BSD manuals is only available to Usenix members holding verified
4.3BSD software licenses, since this means ordinary individuals can't buy
a copy.
As a former member of the Usenix Board of Directors, I was around when the
original 4.2 manuals were printed by Usenix. I believe the situation is
very similar for 4.3 manuals today. The situation is this:
1. Usenix does not own the copyright to the manuals. The manuals
were derived from AT&T sources originally, with lots of stuff
added by the University of California at Berkeley.
2. Usenix wishes to provide a service to the UNIX community by
making the manuals available at very reasonable cost. Usenix
itself has no desire to restrict circulation unnecessarily.
3. Usenix can only distribute this material according to the
restrictions imposed by the *owners of the material*.
4. Usenix worked very hard to overcome legal hassles just to
get this far.
I think there have been some unreasonable flames about Usenix; this is
unfair since Usenix has very little control over the distribution policy
and without this service the manuals would be much harder to get than they
are now. If you don't like the controls on manual distribution, complaints
should be directed first to the Regents of the University of California,
and second to AT&T. I personally feel it is unreasonable to prevent
sales to individuals, but the Usenix Association did not create that
situation and shouldn't be blamed for it. As a practical matter, given
the widespread sale of thousands of copies to hundreds of institutional
licensees, I suspect anyone who wants a copy will have little trouble
obtaining one.
(Also note that this situation is *not* the fault of the technical group
that created 4BSD. As far as I know, they don't like it either.)
/ Michael Tilson, Human Computing Resources Corp., Toronto, Canada
/ +1-416-922-1937, {utzoo,decvax,...}!hcr!mikebzs@bu-cs.BU.EDU (Barry Shein) (10/06/86)
>...On the other hand, when one can freely purchase 4.X BSD manuals, >presumably illegally, in college bookstores... I don't think that's illegal. I think we are confusing buying the manuals with selling them. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the claim is simply that USENIX does not have the licenses necessary to reproduce the manual. USENIX is reproducing the manual purely on the permission granted you, the purchaser, by your license. Like your copy center relies on when they ask if you have the right to copy this (the copy center doesn't need a UNIX license, does it? they just have to see the copyright notice or license or whatever that lets you ASK them to copy this. I realize there have been various legal wranglings over copy-centers, but I think it all came down to that they should demand to see in writing why you think you have a right to ask for something to be copied.) Thus, you are selling these manuals to your students legally as far as I can tell, you purchased the right. If you think the USENIX copying job is better (smaller, better bound) then you show your license and let *them* do the copying for you. THUS...if your bookstore or whatever takes mail orders then John Gilmore's problem is solved, he should just call your bookstore and order a copy and forget the USENIX limitations (tho he may still have other issues in mind.) Or do I still miss a point (some may think we are just masturbating here, but more than a few of us who manage these things for large Universities, like me, are really curious about the outcome of this discussion, though not if it changes things in any way :-) I realize it's not legally binding. -Barry Shein, Boston University
dhb@rayssd.UUCP (David H. Brierley) (10/06/86)
In regard to having to show a license in order to buy a UNIX
manual, let me just add this note. The System V manuals (both
volumes) were the selection of the month in the "Library of
Computer and Information Sciences" book club not too long ago
and as far as I know they are still listed in their current
selections list. Are you going to tell me that if you order
the manuals they are going to call you up and ask you to send
them a copy of your UNIX license?
I realize that SysV is not 4.3BSD but my understanding of the
situation is that the main cause of the BSD licensing problems
is the fact that the BSD code is derived from the ATT code.
Therefore, if you can buy the ATT manual over the counter (or
through the mail in this case) you should be able to do the
same for the BSD manuals.
--
Dave Brierley; Raytheon Co.; Portsmouth RI; (401)-847-8000 x4073
{ allegra, gatech, ihnp4, linus!raybed2 } !rayssd!dhb