#dBase copyrights void ?
It appears the issue of copyright protection and programs that were
originally developed from public domain code has just gotten muddied even
more.
Read the story on page APV-2718 (g apv2718) about how and why a
judge not only threw out the suits Ashton-Tate filed agains Fox and others,
but voided (at least for now….although I'm sure that part at least will
be held in abeyance for a bit) AT's copyrights on dBase.
It seems that dBase was originally based on public domain code from
JPL and AT never disclosed that information in the copyright filings.
If this ruling holds…it could lead to some VERY interesting
developements.
Don