PERMISSION DENIED!

Another recent message from Jeff Vavasour follows.  It refers to Jeff's
attempt to get authorization from Tandy for distributing certain ROMs with
his emulators.  

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Hello everyone,

Got this in the mail today in response to a letter I mailed, probably 18 
months ago.  I thought it might interest some people on this list...


  Tandy Corporation
  Executive Offices

  Re: TRS-80 Model I Emulator

  Dear Mr. Vavasour:

  I apologize for the delay in responding to your request for
  permission to distribute the Model I ROM code and the TRSDOS 2.3
  software for use with your emulator.  [...]

  Tandy has studied this matter and finds that, like any other
  proposed new product, there must be sufficient demand to justify
  investigating the ownership of the code and arranging for the
  rights to the code owned by other parties, etc.  When sufficient
  demand is absent, as in this case, Tandy must decline to release
  the code used in the early Tandy computers.

  We appreciate your interest and your consideration in 
  requesting permission to use this item.

  Sincerely,
  [name deleted]

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Oh well.  Something tells me they tried, but realised that it was way to
convoluted, what with them contracting software development out to 
Microsoft, Randy Cook, Logical Systems, Microware, etc.  In those days, 
companies weren't too careful about getting *all* the rights to software 
developed under contract.  (If they were, Bill Gates would be nowhere 
today.  Believe me, corporations have gotten wise to that loophole these 
days though.)

- Jeff