streepy@convex.com (Larry Streepy) (03/13/91)
I just came across a problem in the NIH C++ class library. It seems that the NIH library contains GNU code to implement its regex class. This fact is UNDOCUMENTED in the NIH distribution. Anyone that has made use of the NIH class library in a commercial product had better quickly check to make sure that you don't make use of the regex class. If you do, you probably in violation of the GNU copyleft. This came as a major surprise to me. Hopefully this posting will help others from being caught unaware. -- Larry Streepy, Convex Computer Corp. PHONE: +1 214 497 4411 ARPA: streepy@convex.COM UUCP: uunet!convex!streepy
drich@klaatu.lanl.gov (David O. Rich) (03/13/91)
In article <1991Mar12.221804.22466@convex.com> streepy@convex.com (Larry Streepy) writes: I just came across a problem in the NIH C++ class library. It seems that the NIH library contains GNU code to implement its regex class. This fact is UNDOCUMENTED in the NIH distribution. Hmmm... Here's what the COPYRIGHT file has in it: The following applies to the NIH Class Library, unless noted otherwise in the source file: THIS SOFTWARE FITS THE DESCRIPTION IN THE U.S. COPYRIGHT ACT OF A "UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WORK". IT WAS WRITTEN AS A PART OF THE AUTHOR'S OFFICIAL DUTIES AS A GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE. THIS MEANS IT CANNOT BE COPYRIGHTED. THIS SOFTWARE IS FREELY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR USE WITHOUT A COPYRIGHT NOTICE, AND THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON ITS USE, NOW OR SUBSEQUENTLY. An exception to this are the files lib/regex.h and lib/regex/regex.c., which are Copyright (C) 1985 Free Software Foundation, Inc. See these files for the terms and conditions governing this software. --Dave -- ============================================================= David Rich | Military Systems Analysis Group (A-5) Email: dor@lanl.gov | Mail Stop F602 Phone: (505) 665-0726 | Los Alamos National Laboratory FAX : (505) 665-2017 | Los Alamos, NM 87545 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>< "...in the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty..." =============================================================
kgorlen@alw.nih.gov (Keith Gorlen) (03/15/91)
In article <1991Mar12.221804.22466@convex.com>, streepy@convex.com (Larry Streepy) writes: |> |> I just came across a problem in the NIH C++ class library. It seems that |> the NIH library contains GNU code to implement its regex class. This |> fact is UNDOCUMENTED in the NIH distribution. There should be a file named "COPYRIGHT" in the top level directory of the NIHCL distribution kit. The COPYRIGHT file contains the following: The following applies to the NIH Class Library, unless noted otherwise in the source file: THIS SOFTWARE FITS THE DESCRIPTION IN THE U.S. COPYRIGHT ACT OF A "UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WORK". IT WAS WRITTEN AS A PART OF THE AUTHOR'S OFFICIAL DUTIES AS A GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE. THIS MEANS IT CANNOT BE COPYRIGHTED. THIS SOFTWARE IS FREELY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR USE WITHOUT A COPYRIGHT NOTICE, AND THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON ITS USE, NOW OR SUBSEQUENTLY. An exception to this are the files lib/regex.h and lib/regex/regex.c., which are Copyright (C) 1985 Free Software Foundation, Inc. See these files for the terms and conditions governing this software. If this file isn't in your kit, please let me know what the version # is and where you obtained it from. Thanks. -- Keith Gorlen phone: (301) 496-1111 Building 12A, Room 2033 FAX: (301) 402-0007 National Institutes of Health uucp: uunet!kgorlen%alw.nih.gov Bethesda, MD 20892 Internet: kgorlen@alw.nih.gov