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. ---------- "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." ---------- Stan Kerr User Services, Computing Services Office University of Illinois/ Urbana email: stankerr@uiuc.edu