jim@doc.ic.ac.uk (James I Murphy) (08/10/90)
Re: TWM Virtual Desktop.
You will no doubt have been aware of a situation that recently occurred
between Solbourne Computer Inc and Imperial College (London).
Mr Paul Lippe (Vice President, General Counsel) of Solbourne Computer Inc
and Mr James Murphy (Head of the Computing Support Group) Imperial College
have been involved in discussions to resolve this matter of the Solbourne
Window Manager and the "look and feel" similarities of a product written by
Dave Edmondson, a systems programmer in my group.
Solbourne and Imperial College have agreed to a statement which is listed
below.
1. Dave Edmondson of Imperial College developed a "TWM virtual
desktop" which Solbourne believes has a similar look-and-feel
to the Solbourne window manager.
2. Solbourne contacted Imperial College to understand whether
Imperial College's implementation was a copy of Solbourne's
product. Imperial College has assured Solbourne that it did
not copy Solbourne's product, and Solbourne acknowledges that
there was no improper conduct by Imperial College.
3. Solbourne never threatened any legal action of any kind.
4. Solbourne and Imperial College have agreed without prejudice
that Imperial can do whatever it wants with the TWM Virtual
Desktop, including releasing it through the X Consortium at MIT.
5. Imperial College is satisified with the resolution of this issue.
James Murphy.