Copyrights

GROKLAW
Putting some meat on legal news' bones.

When you want to know more
about a legal story . . .
but don't know where to look.

IANAL. I am a paralegal, so if you have a legal problem
and want advice, this isn't the place. Hire an attorney
instead. Research is, however, what paras do, so here
I am sharing things I have found in my research.

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OK. Here's all the Copyright Info I Can Find

Be aware that these are the results I found today, July 22, 2003, online in the US Copyright database. There could be registrations that haven't yet been put in electronic format, but that are valid. Also, it's possible I missed some. But this is a start. By all means, go to www.copyright.gov and search yourself.

First, the original copyright that SCO registered New matter and revisions to:

Registration Number: TXu-510-028
Title: UNIX.
Edition: 5th ed.
Note: Computer program; with programmer's manual by K. Thompson, D. M. Ritchie.
Claimant: Unix System Laboratories, Inc.
Created: 1973
Registered: 25Mar92
Title on © Application: UNIX operating system.
Author on © Application: American Telephone & Telegraph Company (employer for hire)
Miscellaneous: C.O. corres.
Special Codes: 1/C

Here is the copyright that I found registered in June by the SCO Group, Inc. on top of this original registered copyright:

Registration Number: TX-5-705-356 (COHM)
Title: UNIX system V, release 4.1ES.
Description: Computer program.
Note: Printout (20 p.) only deposited.
Claimant: the SCO Group, Inc.
Created: 1991
Published: 27Jun91
Registered: 30Jun03
Author on © Application: UNIX System Laboratories, Inc., employer for hire.
Previous Related Version: Prev. reg. 1992, TXu 510-028, et al.
Claim Limit: NEW MATTER: revisions.

You notice that it lists TXu 510-028 et al, which means the original copyright had revisions in addition to the one by SCO in June.

So I searched for "UNIX" and for "UNIX System Laboratories, Inc.", and I went through the lists particularly searching for all results that referenced the same original copyright that SCO's document referenced, TXu 510-028. Note that if it's true that SCO has all copyrights on System V UNIX, then it presumably would have rights to all the revisions and new matter filed on top of the original registration, although I have no idea if that is the case. I did look for any copyright transfers to them in the data base, but I couldn't find any. Again, that doesn't mean that it isn't in paper format somewhere.

But if we assume they do have copyrights in it all, and a judge wouldn't just assume that, then all of the following would be their copyrighted material as well. For that reason, you would not want what they filed in June to be something insignificant, if you were hoping that their rights would be diminished. Whatever was registered prior to infringement can be enforced asking for statutory damages and attorney's fees. So it would be better, if that were your point of view, if the high-end functionality code SCO is complaining about had not been registered until June. Here's the rest of what was registered in the past related to TXU 510-028, the "et al":

Registration Number: TXu-516-705
Title: UNIX operating system.
Edition: Ed. 7.
Note: Computer program & instruction manual.
Claimant: UNIX System Laboratories, Inc.
Created: 1978
Registered: 15May92
Author on © Application: American Telephone & Telegraph Company, employer for hire. Previous Related Version: Prev. reg. 1992, TXu 511-236 & TXu 510-028.
Claim Limit: NEW MATTER: revisions.
Special Codes: 1/C

Registration Number: TXu-511-236
Title: UNIX.
Edition: 6th ed.
Note: Computer program; with programmer's manual by K. Thompson, D. M. Ritchie.
Claimant: Unix System Laboratories, Inc.
Created: 1975
Registered: 7Apr92
Title on © Application: UNIX operating system.
Author on © Application: American Telephone & Telegraph Company (employer for hire)
Previous Related Version: Prev. reg. 1992, TXU 510-028.
Claim Limit: NEW MATTER: revisions & additions.
Miscellaneous: C.O. corres.
Special Codes: 1/C

Registration Number: TXu-516-704
Title: UNIX operating system.
Edition: Ed. 32V.
Note: Computer program & instruction manual.
Claimant: UNIX System Laboratories, Inc.
Created: 1978
Registered: 15May92
Author on © Application: American Telephone & Telegraph Company, employer for hire.
Previous Related Version: Prev. reg. 1992, TXu 511-236 & TXu 510-028.
Claim Limit: NEW MATTER: revisions.
Special Codes: 1/C

Registration Number: TXu-516-705

Title: UNIX operating system.
Edition: Ed. 7.
Note: Computer program & instruction manual.
Claimant: UNIX System Laboratories, Inc.
Created: 1978
Registered: 15May92
Author on © Application: American Telephone & Telegraph Company, employer for hire.
Previous Related Version: Prev. reg. 1992, TXu 511-236 & TXu 510-028.
Claim Limit: NEW MATTER: revisions.
Special Codes: 1/C

And then I searched for "UNIX System V" and here are the results. I have no idea if SCO has ownership of these copyrights or not, but their registration does not refer to those on this list by number; it's conceivable they are included in the et al, but it doesn't appear so on first glance:

1. Registration Number: TX-2-400-593
Title: UNIX system V : release 3.0 INTEL 80286/80386 computer version : programmer's guide.
Imprint: Englewood Cliffs, N. J. : Prentice-Hall, c1988.
Description: 1 v.
Claimant: ac T & T
Created: 1987
Published: 22Feb88
Registered: 4Aug88
Title on © Application: UNIX system V/386: programmer's guide.
Claim Limit: NEW MATTER: "additional text added."
Miscellaneous: C.O. corres.
Special Codes: 1/B/L

2. Registration Number: TX-2-605-294
Title: UNIX system V, release 3.2 : form and menu language interpreter (F M L I) programmer's guide.
Imprint: Englewood, Cliffs, N. J. : Prentice Hall, c1989.
Description: 1 v.
Claimant: ac T T
Created: 1988
Published: 3Apr89
Registered: 12Jul89
Special Codes: 1/B/L

3. Registration Number: TX-2-611-860
Title: Unix system V : release 3.2 : system administrator's reference manual.
Imprint: Englewood Cliffs, N. J. : Prentice Hall, c1989.
Description: 1 v.
Claimant: ac T & T
Created: 1988
Published: 1Mar89
Registered: 12Jul89
Special Codes: 1/B/L

4. Registration Number: TX-2-611-861
Title: Unix system V : release 3.2 : user's guide.
Imprint: Englewood Cliffs, N. J. : Prentice Hall, c1989.
Description: 1 v.
Claimant: ac T & T
Created: 1988
Published: 1Mar89
Registered: 12Jul89
Special Codes: 1/B/L

5. Registration Number: TX-2-611-862
Title: Unix system V : release 3.2 : programmer's guide, vol. I.
Imprint: Englewood Cliffs, N. J. : Prentice Hall, c1989.
Description: 1 v.
Claimant: ac T & T
Created: 1988
Published: 7Mar89
Registered: 12Jul89
Special Codes: 1/B/L

6. Registration Number: TX-3-232-578
Title: Device driver interface/driver-kernel interface : reference manual for Intel processors.
Description: 1 v.
Series: Unix System V ; release 4
Claimant: acUnix System Laboratories, Inc.
Created: 1991
Published: 30Oct91
Registered: 19Dec91
Previous Related Version: Prev. reg. 1991.
Claim Limit: NEW MATTER: additions & revisions.
Special Codes: 1/B/D

Next, just to be thorough, I searched for "Unix System Laboratories" and everything else, minus the ones already listed above, appeared to be manuals, but I am listing them in case I am wrong and you wish to research it yourself:

manuals registration numbers TX-4-045-974, TX-4-037-355, TX-3-945-092;
"Unix System V application binary interface", registration number TX-3-937-524;
"Unix system V release 4 : migration and compatibility guide for Intel processors", registration TX-3-927-244;
"Unix system V release 4 : system administrator's guide for Intel processors", registration number TX-3-927-237;
"Product overview and master index for intel processors : Unix system 5, release 4", registration number TX-3-923-829;
"PC-Interface administration : UNIX SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-923-602;
"Application builder user's guide and reference : UNIX SVR4.2", number TX-3-923-599;
"Programming in Standard C : UNIX SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-920-624;
"Windowing system API reference : Unix SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-920-532;
"Unix system V print service administration", registration number TX-3-920-531;
"Device driver programming : Unix SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-920-530;
"The Unix desktop quick-start : Unix SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-920-529;
"Portable device interface (PDI) : Unix SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-920-528;
"Unix SVR4.2 operating system API reference", registration number TX-3-919-453;
"Unix SVR4.2 advanced system administration", registration number TX-3-919-450;
"Unix SVR4.2 character user interface programming", registration number TX-3-919-449;
"Unix SVR4.2 command reference (A-L)", registration number TX-3-919-448;
"Unix SVR4.2 command reference (M-Z0)", registration number TX-3-919-447;
"Programming with UNIX system calls : UNIX SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-919-446;
"Operating system API reference : UNIX SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-919-445;
"Programming in standard C : UNIX SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-919-412;
"UNIX system V release 4 : understanding ELF object files and debugging tools", registration number TX-3-919-410;
"Graphical user interface programming : UNIX SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-919-408;
"Network administration : UNIX SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-919-407;
"Network programming interfaces : UNIX SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-919-406;
"Windowing system API reference : UNIX SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-919-405;
"UNIX system V release 4 XWIN reference manual", registration number TX-3-919-404;
"System files and devices reference : UNIX SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-910-216;
"Device driver reference : UNIX SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-910-215;
"Basic system administration UNIX SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-910-201;
"The UNIX desktop handbook : UNIX SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-903-431;
"Command reference (M-Z) : UNIX SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-903-430;
"UNIX software development tools--UNIX SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-893-273;
"UNIX SVR4.2 : user's guide", registration number TX-3-893-272;
"Audit trail administration--UNIX SVR4.2", registration number TX-3-893-267;
"Open Look graphic user interface : programmer's guide", registration number TX-3-842-616;
"Command reference (A-L) : UNIX SVR 4.2", registration number TX-3-842-612;
"System V interface definition : vol. 6", registration number TX-3-477-496;
"UNIX System V/386 release 4.0, version 4.0T : user's/system adminstrator's reference manual (M-Z)", registration number TX-3-439-348;
"UNIX system V/386 release 4.0 version 4.0T system V/MLS release 2.1 : security features user's guide", registration number TX-3-429-397;
"UNIX system V/386 release 4.0 version 4.0T : system files and devices reference manual", registration number TX-3-429-392;
"UNIX system V/386 release 4.0 version 4.0T : programmer's reference manual : operating system API", registration number TX-3-429-391;
"UNIX system V/386 release 4.0 version 4.0T : network administrator's guide", registration number TX-3-429-390;
"UNIX system V/386 release 4.0 version 4.0T : network file system administrator's guide", registration number TX-3-429-389;
"Documenter's Workbench release 3.2 user's guide : UNIX system v/386", registration number TX-3-427-774;
"Unix system v/386 user's, system administrator's reference manual (A-L)", registration number TX-3-427-745;
"System V interface definition : vol. IV", registration number TX-3-266-469;
"Tuxedo System : release 4.1 : application development guide", registration number TX-3-237-343;
"System V interface definition : vol. II", registration number TX-3-237-138;
"System V interface definition : vol. III", registration number TX-3-237-137;
"System V interface definition : vol. I", registration number TX-3-236-971;
"Device driver interface/driver-kernel interface : reference manual for Intel processors", registration number TX-3-232-578;
"Unix System V release 4 user's reference manual/system administrator's reference manual (commands a-l) for Intel Processors", registration number TX-3-227-639;
"Tuxedo system release 4.1 : transaction manager : programmer's guide", registration TX-3-223-765;
"TUXEDO System release 4.1 : product overview and master index", registration number TX-3-223-727;
"Unix system V, release 4 : Integrated software development guide for Intel processors", registration number TX-3-221-657;
"Unix system V, release 4 : User's reference manual, system administrator's reference manual (commands m-z) for Intel processors", registration number TX-3-221-656;
"Unix system V, release 4 : Programmer's reference manual : operating system API for Motorola processors", registration number TX-3-221-655;
"Unix system V, release 4 : System files and devices reference manual for Motorola processors", registration number TX-3-221-654;
"Unix system V, release 4 : Master index for Motorola processors", registration number TX-3-221-653;
"Unix system V, release 4, device driver interface/driver-kernel interface : reference manual for Motorola processors", registration number TX-3-220-500;
"Tuxedo system, release 4.1, transaction manager : administrator's guide", registration number TX-3-220-497;
"User's reference manual/system administrator's reference manual : (commands a-1) for Motorola processors", registration number TX-3-220-331;
"Programmer's guide : streams for Intel processors : UNIX system V", TX-3-218-286;
"Unix system V release 4 programmer's reference manual : operating system API : for Intel processors", TX-3-218-268;
"Unix system V release 4 user's reference manual/system administrator's reference manual (commands m-z) : for Motorola processors", registration number TX-3-218-267;
"Tuxedo system, release 4.1, transaction manager reference manual", registration number TX-3-218-265;
"System V interface definition : v. 5", registration number TX-3-178-837.