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Re: [nls-legal] FW: Computer History Museum: IP transfer (NLS/Augment)

To: <jonathan@cheyer.biz>
Cc: nls-legal@chm.cim3.net
From: <simon.garrett@bt.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2005 11:02:26 -0000
Message-id: <C04EAE6A549BD34E915975418E7ADADD0643EBDA@i2km86-ukdy.domain1.systemhost.net>
Jonathan,    (01)

Sorry for the delay.  This is pretty old, but our US guys are onto it.      (02)


> Simon Garrett
> IPR Commercialisation Manager 
> tel: +44 (0) 1473 645 731
> mobile: +44 (0) 7802 871 084    (03)

-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Cheyer [mailto:jonathan@cheyer.biz] 
Sent: 1 December 2005 18:27
To: Garrett,SGE,Simon,CXP R
Cc: nls-legal@chm.cim3.net
Subject: Re: FW: Computer History Museum: IP transfer (NLS/Augment)    (04)

Hi Simon,    (05)

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.    (06)

Thanks!    (07)

Jonathan    (08)


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    (09)

> 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    (010)

> 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    (011)

> 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    (012)

> "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    (013)

> these individuals and also assistance from them in locating software 
> and documentation. We are hoping to move quickly on this project while    (014)

> 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
>>
>>
> 
>     (015)


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