egr@contact.uucp (Gordan Palameta) (04/01/91)
Lextech SA 1, rue des Poissons d'avril 67000 Strasbourg, France Lextech America 666 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 USA Dear member of the "C" programming community, As you are no doubt aware, the "C" programming language uses the "null terminator octet" method to delimit strings of characters. This method consists of using an aligned set of eight consecutive zero bits to unambiguously mark the termination point of a text string stored in a character array. Please be advised that the "null terminator octet" method is covered by US Patent 4 910401 granted to Lextech SA, and as such may not be used without permission. All software developed in the "C" programming language which makes use of "null terminator octets", explicitly or implicitly through standard "string-handling" library functions such as "strcat", "strcpy", "strlen", is subject to royalty payments. Lextech intends to vigorously enforce its legal rights in this matter (retroactive to 1984). Our royalty scheme is as follows: Use of "null terminator octets" within source code Each instance, up to 100 $US 0.33 Each subsequent instance, up to 1000 $US 0.17 Each subsequent instance, without limit $US 0.08 Please note that this fee is applicable to each distributed copy of a program. So-called "public-domain" or "free" software is exempt from royalties. However, for statistical purposes, authors of such software are still required to submit detailed reports of "null terminator octet" use, including each source code line where such use occurs. For further information, you are invited to call our 900 number [ number deleted -- Ed. ] or write to the address indicated above.
mwizard@eecs.cs.pdx.edu (Craig Nelson) (04/01/91)
egr@contact.uucp (Gordan Palameta) writes: > This method consists of using an aligned set of eight consecutive > zero bits to unambiguously mark the termination point of a text string > stored in a character array. > Please be advised that the "null terminator octet" method is > covered by US Patent 4 910401 granted to Lextech SA, and as > such may not be used without permission. > All software developed in the "C" programming language which > makes use of "null terminator octets", explicitly or implicitly > through standard "string-handling" library functions such as > "strcat", "strcpy", "strlen", is subject to royalty payments. > Lextech intends to vigorously enforce its legal rights in this > matter (retroactive to 1984). Our royalty scheme is as follows: > Use of "null terminator octets" within source code > Each instance, up to 100 $US 0.33 > Each subsequent instance, up to 1000 $US 0.17 > Each subsequent instance, without limit $US 0.08 > Please note that this fee is applicable to each distributed copy > of a program. For those who are willing to put up with this crap, I have a suggestion. Declare all your strings one extra byte long and rewrite your strXXX functions to look for two (2) "8 bit 0" bytes. Then lets all write a letter to Lex and tell them where they can stick the extra byte. Craig (mwizard@eecs.ee.pdx.edu)
ken@aiai.ed.ac.uk (Ken Johnson) (04/01/91)
In article <1991Apr1.052315.16971@contact.uucp egr@contact.uucp (Gordan Palameta) writes: > Dear member of the "C" programming community, > As you are no doubt aware, the "C" programming language uses the "null > terminator octet" method... Please be advised that the "null terminator > octet" method is covered by US Patent 4 910401 APRIL FOOL'S DAY JOKE-OMETER Good Pass Poor Stinks |_._._._._._|_._._._._._|_._._._._._| ^ Wheee! | | | Ken Johnson, AIAI This is the Earth. No-one gets out of here alive 80 South Bridge, Edinburgh PAY NO ROOF TAX E-mail ken@aiai.ed.ac.uk PAY NO RATES 031-650 2756 direct line Muslims say: Hands Off Shoplifters
yogi@cs.ubc.ca (Joseph Gil) (04/01/91)
>egr@contact.uucp (Gordan Palameta) writes: > >> zero bits to unambiguously mark the termination point of a text string >> stored in a character array. > >> Please be advised that the "null terminator octet" method is >> covered by US Patent 4 910401 granted to Lextech SA, and as ^^^^^^ what else should be said? >> lots ob bla/bla deleted.
mcdonald@aries.scs.uiuc.edu (Doug McDonald) (04/02/91)
In article <1991Apr1.052315.16971@contact.uucp> egr@contact.uucp (Gordan Palameta) writes: > > Lextech SA > 1, rue des Poissons d'avril > 67000 Strasbourg, France > > Lextech America > 666 Massachusetts Avenue > Cambridge, MA 02139 USA > > > Dear member of the "C" programming community, > > > As you are no doubt aware, the "C" programming language uses the > "null terminator octet" method to delimit strings of characters. > > This method consists of using an aligned set of eight consecutive > zero bits to unambiguously mark the termination point of a text string > stored in a character array. > What? Me worry? My computer uses nine bit chars.
darcy@druid.uucp (D'Arcy J.M. Cain) (04/02/91)
In article <2169@pdxgate.UUCP> Craig Nelson writes: >egr@contact.uucp (Gordan Palameta) writes: >> Please be advised that the "null terminator octet" method is >> covered by US Patent 4 910401 granted to Lextech SA, and as >> such may not be used without permission. >> [ Balance of April fool's posting deleted ] > > For those who are willing to put up with this crap, I have a >suggestion. Declare all your strings one extra byte long and rewrite >your strXXX functions to look for two (2) "8 bit 0" bytes. Then lets >all write a letter to Lex and tell them where they can stick the extra >byte. It's hard to tell if the above reply is also an April fool's joke but just in case it isn't, want to talk about some swampland in Florida? -- D'Arcy J.M. Cain (darcy@druid) | D'Arcy Cain Consulting | There's no government Toronto, Ontario, Canada | like no government! +1 416 424 2871 |
tlglenn@cs.arizona.edu (Ted L. Glenn) (04/02/91)
Personally, I think it's another April Fool's posting. -- -Ted L. Glenn "Don't worry, be happy!" <--Ack! Pffffhhht! tlglenn@cs.arizona.edu G19382105@ccit.arizona.edu G19382105@ARIZRVAX.BITNET
cjkuo@locus.com (Chengi Jimmy Kuo) (04/02/91)
Please be advised to look in your mailbox for a letter regarding trademark infringement. It was deemed that your Null terminator concept resembles too closely to the registered trademark of NULL(tm). "Null" holds a 29/32 bit resemblance to "NULL" on many machines but especially yours. * NULL is a trademark of Mattel Inc. (From the files of "Truth is stranger than fiction.") -- cjkuo@locus.com "The correct answer to an either/or question is both!"
mwp@ubeaut.enet.dec.com (Michael Paddon,,,) (04/02/91)
From article <2169@pdxgate.UUCP>, by mwizard@eecs.cs.pdx.edu (Craig Nelson): > For those who are willing to put up with this crap, I have a > suggestion. Declare all your strings one extra byte long and rewrite > your strXXX functions to look for two (2) "8 bit 0" bytes. Then lets > all write a letter to Lex and tell them where they can stick the extra > byte. > Craig (mwizard@eecs.ee.pdx.edu) Dare I say... hook, line and sinker. Every year, someone gets taken for a ride. This year, Craig, you're the lucky man! Michael ------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Internet: mwp@ubeaut.enet.dec.com | | Michael Paddon | ACSnet: mwp@munnari.oz.au | | | Voice: +61 3 895 9392 | -------------------------------------------------------------------
jott@crash.cts.com (Joan Tine) (04/02/91)
In article <1991Apr1.161038.4202@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> mcdonald@aries.scs.uiuc.edu (Doug McDonald) writes: > >In article <1991Apr1.052315.16971@contact.uucp> egr@contact.uucp (Gordan Palameta) writes: >> >> Lextech SA >> 1, rue des Poissons d'avril >> 67000 Strasbourg, France >> >> Lextech America >> 666 Massachusetts Avenue >> Cambridge, MA 02139 USA >> >> >> Dear member of the "C" programming community, >> >> >> As you are no doubt aware, the "C" programming language uses the >> "null terminator octet" method to delimit strings of characters. >> >> This method consists of using an aligned set of eight consecutive >> zero bits to unambiguously mark the termination point of a text string >> stored in a character array. >> > > >What? Me worry? My computer uses nine bit chars. > > Are we all just tacitly going to ignore the fact that this message was posted on (all together now...) APRIL FIRST?? Huh? Are we? Huh?
decot@hpisod2.cup.hp.com (Dave Decot) (04/02/91)
Methinks youthinks the French don't know what day it is....
adrian@mti.mti.com (Adrian McCarthy) (04/04/91)
In article <cjkuo.670552756@fafnir.la.locus.com> cjkuo@locus.com (Chengi Jimmy Kuo) writes: >* NULL is a trademark of Mattel Inc. So is VOID. Aid. (adrian@gonzo.mti.com)
phil@zorch.SF-Bay.ORG (Phil Gustafson) (04/08/91)
In article <1991Apr1.052315.16971@contact.uucp> egr@contact.uucp (Gordan Palameta) writes: > Lextech SA > 1, rue des Poissons d'avril > 67000 Strasbourg, France I'm surprised that nobody has commented on the fishiness of this address. -- | phil@zorch.SF-Bay.ORG | Phil Gustafson | {ames|pyramid|vsi1}!zorch!phil | UN*X/graphics consultant | sgi!gsi!phil | 1550 Martin Ave., San Jose CA 95126 | phil@gsi | 408/286-1749