1. Do we need to pay or ask for permission to distribute Expect?

     From: libes (Don Libes)
     To: Mohammad Reza Jahanbin <mrj@CIS.Prime.COM>
     Subject: Copyright Question.
     Date: Tue, 26 Jan 93 23:46:24 EST

     Mohammad Reza Jahanbin writes:
     >Before anything let me thank you on behalf of ComputeVision R&D for
     >putting so much effort into Expect. Part of CV has been using Expect
     >for the past two years or so to build variety of tools including an
     >automated testbed for a product.
     >
     >CV is currently considering shipping the automated testbed to some of its
     >retailers, to enable them to perform their own tests before distributing
     >the product.
     >
     >The Question is, are we allowed to ship Expect? Do we need to ask
     >anyone for permission? Do we need to say or write anything in the
     >documentation? Do we need to pay for it?
     >
     >I have not been able to find any copyright (or indeed copyleft) notices
     >in the usual Expect distribution. Would you be able to clarify our position.

     It is my understanding that you are allowed to do just about anything
     with Expect. You can even sell it. You need not ask our permission. You
     need not pay for it. (Your tax dollars, in effect, already have paid
     for it.)

     You should not claim that you wrote it (since this would be a lie), nor
     should you attempt to copyright it (this would be fruitless as it is a
     work of the US government and therefore not subject to copyright).

     NIST lawyers declined to supply a formal response but verbally told me
     that there is a law stating that NIST's name may not be used to imply
     (however indirectly) that NIST's association with Expect somehow makes
     your software product better. For simplicity, just leave NIST's name
     off. You may, of course, credit me personally and I certainly encourage
     that. One line suffices (as far as I'm concerned) although there should
     be something to the effect that no warantee, guarantee, or liability is
     implied. If you have further legal questions, please contact Melissa
     Lieberman.

     My management is always interested in feedback on our work. If you
     would like to send letters of praise describing how Expect has helped
     your business, we would be delighted. Letters (on letterhead please)
     are strong evidence used by policy makers when deciding where every
     dollar goes. If you want to send these letters to NIST directly, you
     may send them to the following individuals:

     Ray Kammer, Director
     NIST
     Admin Bldg, Rm A-1134
     Gaithersburg, MD 20899

     Howard Bloom, Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory
     NIST
     Bldg 220, Rm B-322
     Gaithersburg, MD 20899

     Steve Ray, Manufacturing Systems Integration Division
     NIST
     Bldg 220, Rm A-127
     Gaithersburg, MD 20899

     Al Jones, Applied Systems Group
     NIST
     Bldg 220, Rm A-127
     Gaithersburg, MD 20899

     In case you're wondering about the uninformative titles, Ray Kammer is
     the director of all of NIST (about 3000 people) and Al Jones (way down
     there at the bottom) is my immediate supervisor.

     I hope this has answered your questions. Let me know if you have
     further questions.

     Don
     Last edited: Mon Sep 4 14:20:23 EDT 2000 by Don Libes