Thanks for this rendition. Shared with MCI (01)
Vinton G Cerf
Chief Internet Evangelist
Google/Regus
Suite 384
13800 Coppermine Road
Herndon, VA 20171 (02)
+1 703 234-1823
+1 703-234-5822 (f) (03)
vint@google.com
www.google.com (04)
-----Original Message-----
From: Philip Gust [mailto:gust@acm.org]
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2006 10:58 AM
To: Vint Cerf
Cc: Ken Harrenstien; NLS Restoration Legal Discussion
Subject: RE: [Philip Gust <gust@NouveauSystems.com>: Re: vint cerf] (05)
Vint, (06)
Here's some background information. We've definitely traced the ownership of
NLS/Augment from SRI through Tymshare/Tymnet to McDonnell Douglas. We have
evidence that ownership transferred to British Telecommunications: two
trademarks for Augment (73256814, and
73647182) transferred to BT on 11/20/1989, prior to Boeing's acquisition of
McDonnell Douglas. We also have evidence that BT transferred ownersihp to
MCI: one of the trademarks (73256814) transferred from BT to MCI on
7/25/1995. (07)
Based on this, BT issued the following statement: (08)
"BT believes that any intellectual property rights it held in the NLS /
Augment technology passed with other assets to MCI in the 1990s. However,
with respect to any such IPR's retained by BT then so far as BT is
concerned, it has no issue with the Computer History Museum using the NLS /
Augment copyrights in a not-for-profit capacity for the benefit of the
general public. BT however makes no representation or warranty as to its
actually retaining any such IPRs; the Computer History Museum's reliance on
this letter; or the Computer History Museum's use of NLS / Augment." (09)
Here is the statement we're discussing with Boeing: (010)
"Boeing believes that ownership of of NLS/Augment passed with other assets
formerly from McDonnell Douglas to British Telecommunications PLC in late
1989, prior to Boeing's acquisition of McDonnell Douglas.
As far as Boeing is concerned, we have no issue with the Computer History
Museum using such NLS/Augment copyrights in a not-for-profit capacity for
the benefit of the general public. Boeing makes no representation or
warranty as to such use." (011)
Hopefully the MCI legal group will be able to provide a similar kind of
statement based on the evidence we've accumulated and the action BT and
expected action by Boeing. If you need any further information, please let
me know. (012)
Best regards, (013)
At 06:59 AM 3/16/2006, you wrote:
>I am working with the head of engineering/operations, Fred Briggs, at
>Verizon to try to get their legal department to sign off on your use of
>this software. I honestly doubt that MCI ever had rights to the
>software in which case the lawyers may balk at appearing to grant
>rights they never had - but they might be willing to say they have no
objections.
>
>Vint
>
>
>
>Vinton G Cerf
>Chief Internet Evangelist
>Google/Regus
>Suite 384
>13800 Coppermine Road
>Herndon, VA 20171
>
>+1 703 234-1823
>+1 703-234-5822 (f)
>
>vint@google.com
>www.google.com
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Philip Gust [mailto:gust@acm.org]
>Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2006 9:09 AM
>To: Vint Cerf; 'Ken Harrenstien'
>Cc: NLS Restoration Legal Discussion
>Subject: RE: [Philip Gust <gust@NouveauSystems.com>: Re: vint cerf]
>
>Vint,
>
>We have the software from Doug Engelbart. We'd like to make all of the
>copyrighted Augment/NLS material available through CHM for
>non-commercial use.
>
>We already have a letter in hand from BT. It says, that they have no
>record of holding any intellectual property including copyright, but
>that they have no objection for their part to CHM releasing any
>copyrighted NLS/Augment material for non-commercial use. We're also
>working with Scott Griffin, Boeing's CIO to get a similar letter. If
>we have letters from all parties along the chain of ownership, the CHM
>legal committee will be comfortable assuming the risk of authorizing the
release.
>
>Thanks for your help with this, Vint.
>
>At 03:57 AM 3/16/2006, Vint Cerf wrote:
> >Phil,
> >
> >I asked Verizon to look into this and they claim (and MCI also) that
> >they show no record of holding any intellectual property rights in NLS.
> >Do you actually have access to the software and just want assurances
> >that you can use it or are you trying to get the software in addition
> >to permission to use it?
> >
> >
> >Vinton G Cerf
> >Chief Internet Evangelist
> >Google/Regus
> >Suite 384
> >13800 Coppermine Road
> >Herndon, VA 20171
> >
> >+1 703 234-1823
> >+1 703-234-5822 (f)
> >
> >vint@google.com
> >www.google.com
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Ken Harrenstien [mailto:klh@panix.com]
> >Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2006 2:06 AM
> >To: vint@google.com
> >Cc: gust@NouveauSystems.com; klh@panix.com
> >Subject: [Philip Gust <gust@NouveauSystems.com>: Re: vint cerf]
> >
> >No need for me to be in the middle except as a very interested onlooker.
> >Have at it.
> >
> >--Ken
> >
> >Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2006 11:50:44 -0800
> >To: Ken Harrenstien <klh@panix.com>
> >From: Philip Gust <gust@NouveauSystems.com>
> >Subject: Re: vint cerf
> >Cc: NLS Restoration Legal Discussion <nls-legal@chm.cim3.net>
> >
> >Ken,
> >
> >I was hoping to make contact with Vint to discuss specific steps that
> >he might do to help us navigate the waters at MCI/Verizon. Could you
> >ask him whether he'd be open to my contacting him directly on this,
> >and the best way to reach him?
> >
> >At 12:48 AM 1/26/2006, Ken Harrenstien wrote:
> > >You each just pinged me about this. Trying both barrels, huh?
> > >
> > > > Phil Gust and I have been trying to find a contact in the legal
> > > > department of MCI so that we can continue trying to obtain
> > > > approval to use and/or transfer of rights for the CHM for the
>software.
> > > > However, we have not been able to get any contacts as yet.
> > >
> > > > Would you be willing to approach Vint and see if he could help
> > > > out the CHM in this endeavor?
> > >
> > >Certainly -- we chatted just a couple weeks ago. I'll forward your
> > >notes, and add a little context. He's pretty busy as you can
> > >imagine but I'm sure he will do what he can.
> > >
> > >--Ken
> >
> >
> >Philip Gust
> >Nouveau Systems, Inc.
> >3120 De La Cruz Blvd., Suite 120
> >Santa Clara, CA 95054
> >
> >phone: +1 650 961-7992
> >fax: +1 520 843-7217
>
>
>Philip Gust
>(650) 961-7992 (daytime)
>(650) 367-7763 (evening)
>gust@acm.org (014)
Philip Gust
(650) 961-7992 (daytime)
(650) 367-7763 (evening)
gust@acm.org (015)
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