[comp.lang.fortran] IMSL license protection concerns

kerr@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (08/02/89)

Following is an excerpt from a letter from IMSL addressed to the president of
the University of Illinois, addressing an issue of importance both to
users of the IMSL Library and to users of site licensed software.

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"IMSL, Inc. is a developer and distributor of high quality mathematical
and statistical software libraries which are widely used in industry,
government and educational institutions throughout the world. The purpose
of this letter is to correct any misunderstanding that may exist 
within the academic community regarding the proprietary nature of IMSL's
software products.

"It has come to our attention that some members of the academic community
believe that IMSL's software may be lawfully distributed on university
computer networks. IMSL has not authorized such use, and we consider such
use to be a violation of the IMSL Software License as well as a violation
of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, Public Law 94-553.

"There is no "public domain" IMSL software version. However, IMSL does make
its software available to degree-granting institutions at substantial
discounts. Additional computer systems and multiple software copies may be 
made available to our licensees under special licensing arrangements,
upon payment of the applicable fees.

"Our request to you as President of the University of Illinois is that you 
distribute this notice to the University Computer Center Director and to 
faculty members and graduate students in the physical and behavioral
sciences, and in the mathematics, statistics, and engineering disciplines
who might be potential users of our mathematical and statistical software.
We are sure that you and the entire university community will join with us
in our efforts to protect against unlawful use of software products."
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Stan Kerr
User Services, Computing Services Office
University of Illinois/ Urbana
email: stankerr@uiuc.edu