[comp.protocols.misc] DEC Plays the Royalty Card

adnan@sgtech.uucp (Adnan Yaqub) (08/22/90)

FYI:

In the August 1990 edition of Data Communications there is an article
titled "DEC Plays the Royalty Card" which describes how DEC has
patented its Local Area Transport (LAT) protocol and is now enforcing
its patent with licenses.  According to the article, "DEC's strategy
for enforcing its patent on LAT is to levy a royalty on every
LAT-based terminal server a third-party vendor makes.  Under the
licensing terms DEC announced last November, vendors wanting to use
LAT would have to pay $15 for each terminal port on every terminal
server they sell."

The article also said the DEC is seeking retroactive royalties.  It
went on to say that at press time 21 vendors have signed licensing
agreements and another 80 are in negotiations.  However, it mentioned
that two of the largest LAT terminal server manufacturers, Datability
Software Systems Inc. and Emulex Corp., have so far resisted DEC's
licensing program.
--
Adnan Yaqub (adnan@sgtech.uucp)
Star Gate Technologies
29300 Aurora Rd, Solon, OH, 44139, USA, +1 216 349 1860