Hi Simon, (01)
I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! I wanted to check back with you to
see if you had been able to obtain the ownership information for the
NLS/Augment software. (02)
Thanks! (03)
Jonathan (04)
simon.garrett@bt.com wrote:
> Thanks Jonathan. I'm chasing up the ownership of this, and will get
> back to you as soon as I know more.
>
>
>
>>Simon Garrett
>>IPR Commercialisation Manager
>>tel: +44 (0) 1473 645 731
>>mobile: +44 (0) 7802 871 084
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jonathan Cheyer [mailto:jonathan@cheyer.biz]
> Sent: 15 November 2005 21:30
> To: Garrett,SGE,Simon,CXP R
> Cc: Ian Foley; 'Adam Cheyer'; nls-legal@chm.cim3.net
> Subject: Re: FW: Computer History Museum: IP transfer (NLS/Augment)
>
> Hi Simon,
>
> Thanks for taking an interest in this project.
>
> I'm currently volunteering some of my time on a project for Silicon
> Valley's Computer History Museum. The goal is to locate and preserve
> historically important software. The system that I am helping to try to
> preserve is the NLS/Augment system, originally started in the 1960s by
> Doug Engelbart (inventor of the mouse) at SRI.
>
> The system was developed over about a 25 year period. Due to various
> transfers and acquisitions, the NLS system (as it was called at SRI) was
> renamed to Augment and sold to Tymshare, later bought by McDonnell
> Douglas, which was itself eventually bought by Boeing. Development on
> the Augment system was stopped in the late 1980s by McDonnell Douglas
> and as far as I know has not had any commercial value since then. It has
> since been generally forgotten by pretty much everyone, except as a
> subtext to a historically important demo presented by Engelbart in 1968.
>
> The Computer History Museum (CHM) has been working with Boeing to obtain
> various rights (copyright primarily) to the NLS/Augment software and
> documentation, for the purposes of preservation of this historically
> important piece of software, for historians and future generations. In
> doing the research for the purposes of transfer of any IP of NLS/Augment
> to the CHM, Boeing believes that McDonnell Douglas may have possibly
> transferred some rights for the NLS/Augment system as part of the sale
> of a networking division of McDonnell Douglas to British Telecom (I
> believe the division was named BT Tymnet and later BTNA?). However, it
> is somewhat unclear, since I believe that "NLS" or "Augment" was not
> listed in any inventory or assets listing of the transfer.
>
> The CHM is interested in pursuing a quitclaim from British Telecom that
> would transfer any rights that BT might have on NLS and/or Augment (if
> any) to the CHM, so that preservation work on this project can proceed.
> Many of the people who worked on NLS or Augment over the years are still
> alive and the CHM may also be able to obtain oral histories from these
> individuals and also assistance from them in locating software and
> documentation. We are hoping to move quickly on this project while there
> is still time.
>
> One reason for renewed interest in NLS/Augment is that Doug Engelbart
> recently received the Fellow Award from the Computer History Museum, and
> he also turned 80 this year.
> http://computerhistory.org/fellows2005/fellows.shtml
>
> If you need any additional background information about either the
> NLS/Augment software itself, or about the current Computer History
> Museum project itself, I would be happy to send you more information.
>
> I'm a software engineer so do not have the legal background myself, but
> the CHM does have access to legal council for these kinds of matters.
>
> Simon, it would be really helpful if you could assist in helping this
> project move forward. What steps does BT and the CHM need to take in
> order to make progress in this area?
>
> Thanks for your help!
>
> Jonathan
>
>
>
>
>
>>_____________________________________________
>>From: simon.garrett@bt.com [mailto:simon.garrett@bt.com]
>>Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 4:44 AM
>>To: ian.foley@sri.com
>>Cc: IMCEAMAILTO-jonathan+40cheyer+2Ebiz@ngm.bt.com
>>Subject: FW: Computer History Museum: IP transfer (NLS/Augment)
>>
>>Ian,
>>
>>I'll be pleased to help you all I can. Can you give me any more
>>information about what this is please? At present I haven't found
>>anyone that knows what it is.
>>
>>Regards,
>>
>>Simon Garrett
>>IPR Commercialisation Manager
>>tel: +44 (0) 1473 645 731
>>mobile: +44 (0) 7802 871 084
>>
>>
>>______________________________________________
>>From: Lecky,NW,Nigel,CXP R
>>Sent: 11 November 2005 15:20
>>To: Garrett,SGE,Simon,CXP R
>>Subject: FW: Computer History Museum: IP transfer
>>
>>Simon
>>Can you have a look this odd one please.
>>Thanks
>>Nigel
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Deller,RL,Rachael,CXV R On Behalf Of Carr,MD,Mike,CXV R
>>Sent: 11 November 2005 15:16
>>To: Lecky,NW,Nigel,CXP R
>>Subject: FW: Computer History Museum: IP transfer
>>
>>
>>Hi Nigel
>>Please can we ask you to pick this up for Mike.
>>
>>Many thanks
>>Rachael
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Ian Foley [mailto:ian.foley@sri.com]
>>Sent: 10 November 2005 19:45
>>To: Carr,MD,Mike,CXV R
>>Cc: jonathan@cheyer.biz; 'Adam Cheyer'
>>Subject: Computer History Museum: IP transfer
>>
>>
>>Dear Mike,
>>
>>I was referred to you by Rob Hull, VP at BT Group Strategy &
>
> Development.
>
>>The Computer History Museum in San Jose, California is interested in
>>locating and preserving historically important software. One of their
>>researchers, Jonathan Cheyer (whom I include in copy), is interested
>>in preserving the NLS/Augment system, originally started in the 1960's
>
>
>>by Doug Engelbart (inventor of the mouse).
>>
>>Ownership of this system/patent is not clearly distinguished between
>>Boeing and BT. The Computer History Museum has already received verbal
>
>
>>confirmation from Boeing and now would like to contact BT about
>
> transferring the rights.
>
>>Please follow-up with Jonathan directly in future correspondence.
>>
>>All the best,
>>
>>Ian
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Jonathan Cheyer [mailto:jonathan@cheyer.biz]
>>Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2005 7:20 AM
>>To: Ian Foley
>>Cc: Adam Cheyer; nls-legal@chm.cim3.net
>>Subject: contacts at British Telecom
>>
>>Hi Ian,
>>
>>I spoke with Adam recently, and he mentioned your name as someone who
>>has worked with British Telecom from time to time.
>>
>>I'm currently volunteering some of my time on a project for the
>>Computer History Museum's Software Collection Committee. The goal is
>>to locate and preserve historically important software. The system
>>that I am helping to try to preserve is the NLS/Augment system,
>>originally started in the 1960's by Doug Engelbart (inventor of the
>
> mouse) at SRI.
>
>>The Computer History Museum is hoping to locate the copyright owner
>>and request that the owner consider transferring the rights to the
>>copyright for NLS/Augment to the Computer History Museum for
>>preservation for future generations.
>>
>>It isn't completely clear who owns the copyright. However, we believe
>>it is either Boeing or British Telecom.
>>
>>We have already gotten a verbal agreement from Boeing to transfer any
>>ownership of NLS/Augment that they have (if they have it) to the CHM.
>>
>>We are hoping that British Telecom will follow Boeing's footsteps and
>>do the same.
>>
>>Unfortunately, the CHM doesn't have any contacts at British Telecom to
>
>
>>start this process. Adam mentioned that you have worked with people at
>
>
>>British Telecom, as well as people from the company to which they
>>outsource their legal work. I was wondering if you might consider
>>giving us an introduction to any relevant people at BT. Also, do you
>>have any suggestions for the best way to proceed?
>>
>>If you need any additional background information about either the
>>NLS/Augment software itself, or about the current Computer History
>>Museum project itself, I would be happy to send you more information.
>>
>>Thanks for all of your help!
>>
>>Jonathan Cheyer
>>
>>
>
> (05)
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