Sally,
Thanks for pursuing this avenue. Please thank Kevin Purell for his
efforts on our behalf. It's a good example of why following multiple
paths is important for artifacts like this.
I sent John Toole a draft letter for review that Simom Garrett at BT
suggested we write. It requests them to furnish a letter stating
that BT believes ownership of NLS/Augment passed with other assets
formerly from Tymenet/Tymeshare to MCI in 1993-1994. We're also asking
them to state that, so far as BT is concerned, BT has no issue with the
Computer History Museum using NLS/Augment copyrights in a not-for-profit
capacity for the benefit of the general public.
We're following the trail to MCI/Verizon now, both through Vint Cerf, and
with Anita Odonovich at Verizon legal. Jonathan Cheyer located her
through several referrals. You may have seen his correspondence on
the nls-legal mailing list.
I'm still trying to connect directly with Kathy Gallagher at
Boeing. I've left several phone messages so far, including one with
her admin. I'll keep trying to get through to her.
Subject: RE: Assistance Re:
Augument Software
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 10:35:11 -0000
X-MS-Has-Attach:
X-MS-TNEF-Correlator:
Thread-Topic: Assistance Re: Augument Software
Thread-Index: AcYblB1KNVsuTck+SPavvldZis8q7gMXe7kw
From: <kevin.purell@bt.com>
To: <SAbel@fenwick.com>
Cc: <gust@nouveausystems.com>
X-OriginalArrivalTime: 14 Feb 2006 10:35:11.0808 (UTC)
FILETIME=[557EA400:01C63152]
Sally,
After some searching I regret to inform you that,
unfortunately, I cannot trace any history within BT that relates to this
matter.
Regards
Kevin Purell
From: Sally Abel
[
mailto:SAbel@fenwick.com]
Sent: 17 January 2006 18:31
To: Purell,KJ,Kevin,CGLI R
Cc: gust@nouveausystems.com
Subject: Assistance Re: Augument Software
Dear Mr. Purell:
I am writing to you on behalf of the Computer History Museum
(www.computerhistory.org),
where I am a member of the Board of Trustees. We understand that
you are responsible for technology licensing at BT. We are hopeful
that you can point us in the right direction as to some old technology
that BT may or may not have an interest or continuing interest in.
In the interest of preservation and research, the Museum would like to
restore and make available for non-commercial use software previously
marketed/owned by Boeing under the name AUGMENT (previously NLS).
We understand that Boeing likely transferred the software and
intellectual property rights to BT several years ago, and it is possible
that BT subsequently transferred the remaining rights, if any, to
Sprint. We have already gotten the information that we can from
Boeing.
At this juncture, the Museum is interested to know if BT retained or
transferred the rights, and whether BT would be willing to quit claim the
IP rights, if any, to the Museum.
Please contact me (or Philip Gust copied above) at your earliest
convenience if you are able to assist us or if you have a different
contact within BT you believe we should be talking with.
Many thanks,
Sally Abel
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Philip Gust
Nouveau Systems, Inc.
phone: +1 650 961-7992
fax: +1 520 843-7217
mailto: gust@NouveauSystems.com
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