Re: [nls-legal] NLS/Augment

[Philip Gust <gust@NouveauSystems.com>]

Bob,

Thanks for sending this.  The NLS project is one of the pilot
projects of the Computer History Museum to learn about how to collect and
restore historical computer software.  Because of its age,
complexity, and history, this has been a challenging project from both a
technical and a legal standpoint.  We are lucky to have a number of
dedicated volunteers, including Doug Engelbart and several members of the
original NLS team.  Several friends of CHM, including Vint Cerf and
the late Lew Platt of Boeing, have also generously helped us secure
permission to make NLS/Augment available to the computer history
community.  We are very grateful to them, and to you, for making
this possible.

Best regards,

At 09:40 PM 5/19/2006, Peterson, Robert A (Bob) wrote:
> Phil,
>  
> I am sending you this note at the request of Vint Cerf.  I
> understand that the Computer History Museum wishes to make use, in a
> not-for-profit capacity, of the copyrights in a piece of software known
> as NLS/Augment, which I am told is a PDP-10 emulator
> (?NLS/Augment?).
>  
> I also understand from emails that Vint has provided me that ownership of
> the intellectual property rights in NLS/Augment is said to have passed at
> various times from SRI to McDonnell Douglas to British Telecom and,
> ultimately, to MCI.  MCI did acquire certain assets from British
> Telecom?s North American subsidiary in a transaction that closed in
> January 1994.  It does not appear, however, that MCI acquired
> ownership of the intellectual property rights in NLS/Augment as a result
> of that transaction, although based on the documents available to me it
> is not possible to conclusively determine what rights MCI may or may not
> have in NLS/Augment.
>  
> In any case, Verizon Business Network Services, Inc., as the successor to
> MCI Telecommunications Corporation, Inc., has no objection to the
> Computer History Museum?s use, for not-for-profit purposes for the
> benefit of the general public, of whatever copyrights may exist in
> NLS/Augment.  
>  
> This communication is not intended, however, nor should it be construed,
> as a representation or warranty as to the rights that Verizon Business
> Network Services, Inc. or any predecessor entity may or may not have in
> NLS/Augment, or as to the appropriateness of the Computer History
> Museum?s intended use of NLS/Augment.  Verizon Business Network
> Services, Inc. makes no such representations or warranties, and this note
> is provided to you without liability on the part of Verizon Business
> Network Services, Inc. or any related entity.
>  
> Very truly yours,
>  
> Bob Peterson
>  
> Robert A. Peterson
> Vice President and Deputy General Counsel
> Network & Information Technology 
> Verizon Business
> 1133 19th Street, NW
> Washington, DC 20036
> Tel.  202-736-6587
> Fax  202-736-6382
> Blackberry/Email: 
>
> robert.a.peterson@verizonbusiness.com
>  
>

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

mailto: gust@NouveauSystems.com

Nouveau Systems products seamlessly integrate collaboration, information management, processes automation, and capture of mission-critical knowledge.  To learn how Nouveau Systems products can help your organization drive innovation, visit: http://www.NouveauSystems.com

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