LEGAL ISSUES (fwd)

Informix Software Ltd is acknowledged by the industry as having the most active anti-piracy campaign in Europe. Indeed, Informix is the only software publisher in the UK to have dedicated personnel working on piracy prevention. Malcolm Padina, UK Managing Director is a member of the FAST Board and chairs the Unix Sub-Group. Mr.Murphy mentions two specific cases of Informix piracy 'Stewart Business Systems' and 'Trace Alexander' and states that no action was taken by Informix despite being presented with categoric proof of illegal activity. Mr.Murphy's comments are wholly inaccurate and unreasearched, and his claims of numerous telephone calls to Informix are also unfounded, the facts of the matter are as follows; Stewart Computer Systems Ltd ---------------------------- In September 1992 when Stewart Computer Systems Ltd was acquired by Glasgow based Weir Computer Services, it was discovered that unauthorised copies of C-ISAM, I-SQL and INFORMIX 4GL had been made. Weir Computer Services and Informix negotiated a substantial settlement which resulted in Weir acquiring authorised licenses for distribution to all of Stewart Computer Systems pirate sites. A press statement was released in February of 1993 detailing the settlement, which received wide coverage in the trade press. Alexander Associates -------------------- Alexander Associates were taken over by Trace Computers in March 1992. It was discovered that prior to this date, Alexander Associates had made a substantial number of unauthorised copies of INFORMIX SQL and INFORMIX 4GL. Although the liability for this activity lay with the directors of Alexander Associates and not with Trace Computers, a substantial settlement was agreed between Informix and Trace Computers, as a result of which all illegal sites received authorised copies of Informix products. A press statement was released 17 June 1993 which also received wide press coverage. Informix Software Ltd investigates all allegations of suspected piracy, and will where necessary prosecute offenders to the full extent of the law. Any person wishing to report suspicion of piracy can call the Informix Piracy Team in confidence on 0800-585602. MARTIN SMITH Informix UK Licensing Manager } ----- Begin Included Message ----- } } >From uunet!rmy.emory.edu!ilist Thu Jul 15 00:10:48 1993 } From: uunet!cix.compulink.co.uk!imurphy (Ian Murphy) } Subject: LEGAL ISSUES } Date: Tue, 13 Jul 1993 18:04:15 +0000 } Reply-To: uunet!cix.compulink.co.uk!imurphy } Sender: uunet!rmy.emory.edu!informix-list-owner } To: informix-list@rmy.emory.edu } X-Informix-List-To: eu-informix-distr@inflon.informix.com } X-Informix-List-Id: <news.3809> } Content-Length: 1754 } } } The following items have still not been responded to either from } telephone calls to Informix or by electronic mail. } } I feel that plenty of time has been given for Informix to make a } statement about the situation and as they don't seem to care then } I thought I'd post it up here and we'll see what Informix USA has } to say about this state of affairs. } } ========================== } informix/general #507, from akent, 448 chars, Jun 26 23:08 93 } This is a comment to message 506. } There are comments to this message. } -------------------------- } Take heart that the Trace/ Alexander scam is somewhat, shall we say, } tempered, by the reference to Stewart Business Systems in same } article. } Why? } Well, a couple of years ago, Informix Software UK junked the } accounting software they were using in favour of a package which } contained not a line of Informix code. } The supplier? } Stewart Business Systems! :-))) } } Andy } (Postscript: AFAIK, the Stewart system was also de-commissioned some } time ago.) } } ========================== } informix/general #508, from imurphy, 614 chars, Jun 27 00:51 93 } This is a comment to message 507. } -------------------------- } What incensed me was I took the decision to inform FAST and also } Informmix. I then lost a lot of contract work, which had been } promised me by a couple of companies. I know that they had some } contact with Alexander Associates but I cannot prove anything. } } I do know that a number of the original sites STILL have copies of } software for which they did not pay and said companies do not have } any connection with Trace. } } What is in question here is Informix attitude to pursuing software } pirates. It would appear that they have little ability to pursue } people even when they are handed catagoric proof of piracy. } } Ian } } } } ----- End Included Message ----- } }