siegel@endor.harvard.edu (Rich Siegel) (12/20/89)
In a completely unexpected move today, Charles Babbage, creator of the "Babbage Numerator", widely recognized to be the prototypical computer, announced that he and his heirs will be suing all makers of computer equipment, computer peripherals, computer-driven equipment (cars, microwave ovens, etc) for royalty fees retroactive to December 1, 1880. The basis for the suit is quoted: "All computers ever produced since mine are unlicensed derivative works, and they infringe upon my copyright of presentation appearance which I placed on the Numerator." In a related news item, Ada Lovelace, Babbage's live-in girlfriend, is filing a suit against all programmers, claiming that they have unlawfully profited from her work. R. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rich Siegel Staff Software Developer Symantec Corporation, Language Products Group Internet: siegel@endor.harvard.edu UUCP: ..harvard!endor!siegel "When someone who makes four hundred and fifty dollars an hour wants to tell you something for free, it's a good idea to listen." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
george@swbatl.UUCP (6544) (12/20/89)
In article <3458@husc6.harvard.edu> siegel@endor.harvard.edu (Rich Siegel) writes: >In a completely unexpected move today, Charles Babbage, creator of the >"Babbage Numerator", widely recognized to be the prototypical computer, >announced that he and his heirs will be suing all makers of computer >equipment, computer peripherals, computer-driven equipment ... Gee. Why would Charlie do this? Isn't he making enough from his software stores? Talk about shooting your foot that feeds you! ;-) -- / George D. Nincehelser \ uunet!swbatl!george \ / / Southwestern Bell Telephone \ Phone: (314) 235-6544 \ / / / Advanced Technology Laboratory \ Fax: (314) 235-5797 \ / / / /\ 1010 Pine, St. Louis, MO 63301 \ de asini umbra disceptare \
jdarcy@pinocchio.encore.com (Jeff d'Arcy) (12/20/89)
siegel@endor.harvard.edu (Rich Siegel): . In a related news item, Ada Lovelace, Babbage's live-in girlfriend, . is filing a suit against all programmers, claiming that they have unlawfully . profited from her work. No, you got it wrong; Ada's case is against the US DOD, and it's for defamation of character. :-) Jeff d'Arcy OS/Network Software Engineer jdarcy@encore.com If Encore endorsed my opinions, they couldn't afford to pay me
fiddler%concertina@Sun.COM (Steve Hix) (12/21/89)
In article <3458@husc6.harvard.edu>, siegel@endor.harvard.edu (Rich Siegel) writes: > In a completely unexpected move today, Charles Babbage, creator of the > "Babbage Numerator", widely recognized to be the prototypical computer, > announced that he and his heirs will be suing all makers of computer > equipment, computer peripherals, computer-driven equipment (cars, > microwave ovens, etc) for royalty fees retroactive to December 1, 1880. After hearing preliminary arguments, the judge threw the case out, claiming that Babbage's analog computer did not directly prefigure current digital practice. Babbage counters by suing manufacturers of various analog computers, such as naval gun directors and some analog flight simulators. In a related move, Babbage himself is being taken to court by Blaise Pascal, inventor of an early census-tabulating computer. ------------ "...Then anyone who leaves behind him a written manual, and likewise anyone who receives it, in the belief that such writing will be clear and certain, must be exceedingly simple-minded..." Plato, _Phaedrus_ 275d