mayo@wrl.dec.com (Bob Mayo) (02/02/91)
Archive-name: lsi/ic-layout/magic/1991-02-01 Archive-directory: gatekeeper.dec.com:/pub/DEC/magic/ [16.1.0.2] Original-posting-by: mayo@wrl.dec.com (Bob Mayo) Original-subject: Re: VLSI Software Reposted-by: emv@ox.com (Edward Vielmetti) In article <45@hdwr1.UUCP> rmorse@hdwr1.UUCP (Robert Morse) writes: >I have a question about the Magic software. I called up and asked for a >catalog of the ,`so called free software`, and in a week or so received >the catalog. Now is the problem. When I look up the Magic software I find >that because I am not a university, I am expected to donate $1500.00 dollars >for the software, as they think everyone who is not at a university is going >to get it for a company. Magic V6 is also available from me via FTP within the USA. There is no charge. Or, you may steal it from a friend. If you require a tape or if you are outside of the USA, you'll have to either pay Berkeley or get a friend to make you a tape. The copyright for version 6 allows unlimited copying and distribution by anybody. Any way you get it, it would be nice if you sent a few bucks to Berkeley to help fund similar projects... The reason that I got Berkeley to change the copyright in this manner is that I feel that lots more people could use and enhance magic if it was free. In particular, there appears to be a "cottage industry" of individual IC designers out there that rely on free or inexpensive software such as Magic. Now, all we need is to find someone to fund a small group of people to support the thing. Perhaps I should open up a $5/minute 900-number for magic questions! --Bob