fnf@mcdsun.UUCP (Fred Fish) (07/21/87)
******************* URGENT NOTICE *********************** * * * Please give this notice and its contents widest * * possible distribution. Repost to any electronic * * communications service and BBS on which it does * * not already exist. Thank you. * * * * Fred Fish 20-Jul-87 * * * ************************************************************ I have just spoken with Martin Murray, president of Inovatronics, 11311 Stemmons Freeway, Suite 7, Dallas Texas, concerning the contents of disk number 80 in my library of Amiga software. It appears that some dastardly individual took a copy of a commercial product of theirs, modified it to remove the copyright messages, and then released this modified version on one of the BBS's that I collected material from in the course of organizing this disk. Naturally, we are both VERY concerned about this, and the effect that it might have on the commercial value of their product. The programs in question are in the directory "Tools" on disk number 80. I am in the process of attempting to identify the original source of this modified version, to notify all recipients that this material is to be immediately removed from circulation, and to otherwise take all appropriate steps to reduce any damage caused by this release. I cannot say more at this time. Please help me out via the following steps: (1) Notify any individuals or organizations that you know of that have copies of, or redistribute disk 80, to destroy those copies and to stop distribution immediately. I will issue a replacement disk as soon as the dust settles. Anyone who received disk 80 from me should return the original disk for replacement. (2) Please send me a postcard with the name, address and phone number of organizations (including user groups) which you know of that redistribute my disks so that I may determine who the mainstream redistributers are, and track possible distribution channels. (3) If you are using these tools, please arrange to get a legitimate copy. I believe you can order a copy directly from Inovatronics, and they are interested in finding out how many honest users there are that will now be willing to pay for the product. Call (214) 241-9515. Consider this a personal plea from me, please do not rip these people off! The Amiga software industry has grown tremendously since I started collecting and distributing PD and freely redistributable software in late 1985. It is very hard to keep track of ALL the players with products on the market. For whatever reason (lack of sleep after late night hacking perhaps) I did not connect the name Inovatronics in this material with the "Power Windows <--> Inovatronics" people. I hope that the individual responsible for deliberately and knowingly causing this situation realizes the extent and seriousnous of the situation he has caused, and its implication for the future of Amiga PD software. Please help me to undo any damage I might have done by not being alert enough to see through this deception. Thank you. -Fred Fish 20-Jul-87 [LATE NEWS FLASH --- When it rains it pours, as they say....] Right after I wrote this file out but before I could post it, I received a call from Gary Samad of Software Visions Inc., the author of the excellent MicroFiche Filer program (he sent me the demo copy which was released on disk number 88). It seems that on the same disk that there is a program named "snap", which contains binary code compiled from source code that was developed by someone under contract to Software Visions. Gary has requested that the "snap" program be removed from distribution, so all comments above concerning disk number 80 and the directory "tools" apply equally to disk number 88 and the "snap" directory. It hasn't been a fun day folks.... -- = Drug tests; just say *NO*! = Fred Fish Motorola Computer Division, 3013 S 52nd St, Tempe, Az 85282 USA = seismo!noao!mcdsun!fnf (602) 438-3614
fnf@well.UUCP (Fred Fish) (07/21/87)
******************* URGENT NOTICE *********************** * * * Please give this notice and its contents widest * * possible distribution. Repost to any electronic * * communications service and BBS on which it does * * not already exist. Thank you. * * * * Fred Fish 20-Jul-87 * * * ************************************************************ I have just spoken with Martin Murray, president of Inovatronics, 11311 Stemmons Freeway, Suite 7, Dallas Texas, concerning the contents of disk number 80 in my library of Amiga software. It appears that some dastardly individual took a copy of a commercial product of theirs, modified it to remove the copyright messages, and then released this modified version on one of the BBS's that I collected material from in the course of organizing this disk. Naturally, we are both VERY concerned about this, and the effect that it might have on the commercial value of their product. The programs in question are in the directory "Tools" on disk number 80. I am in the process of attempting to identify the original source of this modified version, to notify all recipients that this material is to be immediately removed from circulation, and to otherwise take all appropriate steps to reduce any damage caused by this release. I cannot say more at this time. Please help me out via the following steps: (1) Notify any individuals or organizations that you know of that have copies of, or redistribute disk 80, to destroy those copies and to stop distribution immediately. I will issue a replacement disk as soon as the dust settles. Anyone who received disk 80 from me should return the original disk for replacement. (2) Please send me a postcard with the name, address and phone number of organizations (including user groups) which you know of that redistribute my disks so that I may determine who the mainstream redistributers are, and track possible distribution channels. (3) If you are using these tools, please arrange to get a legitimate copy. I believe you can order a copy directly from Inovatronics, and they are interested in finding out how many honest users there are that will now be willing to pay for the product. Call (214) 241-9515. Consider this a personal plea from me, please do not rip these people off! The Amiga software industry has grown tremendously since I started collecting and distributing PD and freely redistributable software in late 1985. It is very hard to keep track of ALL the players with products on the market. For whatever reason (lack of sleep after late night hacking perhaps) I did not connect the name Inovatronics in this material with the "Power Windows <--> Inovatronics" people. I hope that the individual responsible for deliberately and knowingly causing this situation realizes the extent and seriousnous of the situation he has caused, and its implication for the future of Amiga PD software. Please help me to undo any damage I might have done by not being alert enough to see through this deception. Thank you. -Fred Fish 20-Jul-87 [LATE NEWS FLASH --- When it rains it pours, as they say....] Right after I wrote this file out but before I could post it, I received a call from Gary Samad of Software Visions Inc., the author of the excellent MicroFiche Filer program (he sent me the demo copy which was released on disk number 88). It seems that on the same disk that there is a program named "snap", which contains binary code compiled from source code that was developed by someone under contract to Software Visions. Gary has requested that the "snap" program be removed from distribution, so all comments above concerning disk number 80 and the directory "tools" apply equally to disk number 88 and the "snap" directory. It hasn't been a fun day folks.... -- =============================================================================== Fred Fish (602) 438-5976 well!fnf ===============================================================================
fnf@mcdsun.UUCP (Fred Fish) (07/21/87)
In article <340@mcdsun.UUCP> fnf@mcdsun.UUCP (Fred Fish) writes: >(2) Please send me a postcard with the name, address and phone > number of organizations (including user groups) which you > know of that redistribute my disks so that I may determine Ack, how could I forget! The address to mail them to is: Fred Fish 1346 W. 10th Place Tempe, Arizona 85281 Don't send them to me here at work!!! I don't imagine our mail department would appreciate having to sort through 100,000 postcards. :-) Also, common sense would dictate that I already know about Amazing Computing for example. I only need contacts that you personally deal with. Thanks. -Fred -- = Drug tests; just say *NO*! = Fred Fish Motorola Computer Division, 3013 S 52nd St, Tempe, Az 85282 USA = seismo!noao!mcdsun!fnf (602) 438-3614
ewhac@well.UUCP (Leo 'Bols Ewhac' Schwab) (07/21/87)
In article <3590@well.UUCP> fnf@well.UUCP (Fred Fish) writes: >I have just spoken with Martin Murray, president of Inovatronics, >11311 Stemmons Freeway, Suite 7, Dallas Texas, concerning the >contents of disk number 80 in my library of Amiga software. >It appears that some dastardly individual took a copy of a >commercial product of theirs, modified it to remove the >copyright messages, and then released this modified version [ ... ] > Well, this is one way to call attention to some stuff on a disk that I had heretofore ignored. After reading this, I pulled out disk #80 and played with the stuff in question. Not bad. The memory disassembler is very nice, as is the memory editor. Are these the only tools made by Inovatronics (apart from Power Windows)? I'm inclined to grab this disk if there are other tools on it. >I am in the process of attempting to identify the original source >of this modified version, [ ... ] If you locate this individual, please feel free to stamp on his toes, feed Alka Seltzer to his pet goldfish, and wave a magnet over his disks. >[LATE NEWS FLASH --- When it rains it pours, as they say....] >disk number 88). It seems that >on the same disk that there is a program named "snap", [ ... ] >Gary has requested that the >"snap" program be removed from distribution, [ ... ] Now this *is* odd. I checked this one out, too. The README file says that it's freely redistributable. Did the contractor change his mind? Or is it just a mistrake? Don't know what the fuss is about this one; looks relatively trivial. But I'll delete the directory, anyway. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Leo L. Schwab -- The Guy in The Cape ihnp4!ptsfa -\ \_ -_ Bike shrunk by popular demand, dual ---> !{well,unicom}!ewhac O----^o But it's still the only way to fly. hplabs / (pronounced "AE-wack") "Work FOR? I don't work FOR anybody! I'm just having fun." -- The Doctor
fnf@mcdsun.UUCP (Fred Fish) (07/22/87)
In article <3596@well.UUCP> ewhac@well.UUCP (Leo 'Bols Ewhac' Schwab) writes: >In article <3590@well.UUCP> fnf@well.UUCP (Fred Fish) writes: >>I am in the process of attempting to identify the original source >>of this modified version, [ ... ] > > If you locate this individual, please feel free to stamp on his >toes, feed Alka Seltzer to his pet goldfish, and wave a magnet over his >disks. I forgot to mention in my haste to get the word out as quickly as possible, but I would appreciate people checking various BBS's for these "tools" files. I believe they can be found in a file called something like "tools.arc" or "mtools.arc". If found, and the date is prior to Jun 12, 1987 then I would like to hear about it as soon as possible. Please include as much information as possible, like BBS phone number, sysop address and phone number, uploader name, upload date, upload filename, etc. I may be impossible to track by now, but given enough information and assuming the file hasn't been purged by now, we just might get lucky if the trail is not too cold. You can report any information by calling (602) 921-1113 and leaving a message on my recorder, even if anonymously. Thank you. > Now this *is* odd. I checked this one out, too. The README file >says that it's freely redistributable. Did the contractor change his mind? >Or is it just a mistrake? I have now heard from both sides on this one. They apparently do not agree (and may not even know for sure) whether or not any proprietary code or algorithms (trade secrets) were used in the suspect binary. I have done the safe thing and pulled the disk from circulation. -Fred -- = Drug tests; just say *NO*! = Fred Fish Motorola Computer Division, 3013 S 52nd St, Tempe, Az 85282 USA = seismo!noao!mcdsun!fnf (602) 438-3614
gary@eddie.MIT.EDU (Gary Samad) (07/24/87)
In article <342@mcdsun.UUCP> fnf@mcdsun.UUCP (Fred Fish) writes: }In article <3596@well.UUCP> ewhac@well.UUCP (Leo 'Bols Ewhac' Schwab) writes: } }> Now this *is* odd. I checked this one out, too. The README file }>says that it's freely redistributable. Did the contractor change his mind? }>Or is it just a mistrake? } }I have now heard from both sides on this one. They apparently do not }agree (and may not even know for sure) whether or not any proprietary }code or algorithms (trade secrets) were used in the suspect binary. }I have done the safe thing and pulled the disk from circulation. } }-Fred There is no question that proprietary algorithms were used in this program although perhaps not proprietary code. I hired this contractor to translate my routines from C to assembler and it is precisely these algorithms that he released in the "snap" program. He has signed two documents that very clearly state that these algorithms are trade secrets and that the routines themselves are copyrighted and completely owned by Software Visions, Inc. Even if he completely rewrote the code (which he claims) that does not release him from the NON-DISCLOSURE agreement that he signed to protect my trade secrets. May there be no misunderstanding, Gary
kurt@tc.fluke.COM (Kurt Guntheroth) (07/30/87)
> From: gary@eddie.MIT.EDU (Gary Samad) > There is no question that proprietary algorithms were used in this program... > He has signed two documents that very clearly state that these algorithms are > trade secrets... Even if he completely rewrote the code (which he claims) > that does not release him from the NON-DISCLOSURE agreement that he signed > to protect my trade secrets. I have very bad news for Gary Samad. The algorithms are no longer protected because they were once trade secrets. The secret is now out, and trade secret protection only allows you to sue the priviledged person who stole the secret. Copyright protection doesn't protect the algorithm, only its expression. Now, if you had secured patent protection... And they say special laws aren't needed for software protection. DISCLAIMER: Not a law" <"