Date   : Mon, 28 Jul 2003 19:40:14 +0100
From   : Sprow <info@...>
Subject: Re: BBC Basic source code

In article <50DA4D126823D411AE2600508B5E2B5A013BCB3C@...>,
   "Fewell, Steve" <Steve.Fewell@...> wrote:
> Wouter wrote:
> > I happened to read in the newsgroups that RISC OS was sold by Pace.
> > Would this mean the bullshit 'protecting' of the BBC ROMs is also over
> > or is that not covered? In particular I'm interested because I've got
> > the source code of BAS128 and 2 other variants (CMOS processors). I got
> > it from someone who worked at Acornsoft. It would be nice to be able to
> > Share...

> As far as I am aware, the Acorn BBC software (Basic / OS) is available to
> share (as I think either Acornsoft or PACE agreed for its distribution).
> Does anyone know any more info on this?

Not officially it's not.
Pace's stance was to turn a blind eye to it,but to retain the right to sue
your pants off if they were in a bad mood one day.

> Anyway, I've had no problem putting my own information about the 
> disassembly of Basic 4 up on the web!

Again,see above.
The likelyhood of a Pace lawyer finding that website and realising what you
had done and him actually bothering to persue the matter are/were very slim.
More likely would be someone at the BBC getting upset about it as they
jealously guard the "BBC" brand.

You should realise that all of the work Acorn did is copyright someone
somewhere so what you are doing is strictly speaking illegal,but as it's
only really of use on 20 year old 8 bit machines you're /probably/ alright!
Sprow.