Oric ROM copyright
Oric ROM copyright
Does anyone know who owns the copyright to the Oric ROMs these days?
Well, a lot of 80s computer roms contained microsoft BASIC, but the ROMs remained the entire property of the company behind the computer (in general). I'm sure this would have been the case with the Oric. Usually when a company goes bust, the intellectual property (such as ownership of rights to products) are usually sold off. It would be interesting to know where the rights to the Oric ROMs ended up.
If they weren't sold off, I guess they reverted to the individuals who put together the ROM.
If they weren't sold off, I guess they reverted to the individuals who put together the ROM.
Companies purchased a license for Microsoft BASIC for which they either paid a flat fee or by number of sales depending on the contract. I think the latter is most likely. That did not transfer full ownership to the company in most cases.
I believe Commodore was an exception to the rule as they continued to add to the language and modify it after the PET.
<edit>
BTW, this is why the VTech Laser 128 was legal. Apple's license wasn't exclusive and VTech just licensed most of the ROM.
I believe Commodore was an exception to the rule as they continued to add to the language and modify it after the PET.
<edit>
BTW, this is why the VTech Laser 128 was legal. Apple's license wasn't exclusive and VTech just licensed most of the ROM.
Talking about M$ here is little program for your Oric/8D/Emulator
and more info here.
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Emul8D
Code: Select all
1 '***********************
2 ' MICROSOFT! Easter Egg
3 '***********************
4 B=#E435 : E=B+9
5 FOR I=E TO B STEP -1
6 J=PEEK(I) : J=J-INT(J/64)*64
7 IF I>B THEN A$=A$+CHR$(J+64) ELSE A$=A$+CHR$(J)
8 NEXT I
9 PRINT A$
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Emul8D
Oric purchased a license to use Microsoft BASIC on the Microtan, but didn't for the Oric, which was why they didn't like to reveal the ROM details.
Microsoft surely don't have an interest in old BASIC? They never pushed it when Oric was a going concern.
As Oric no longer exists, I would expect copyright reverts to the authors. (?)
Microsoft surely don't have an interest in old BASIC? They never pushed it when Oric was a going concern.
As Oric no longer exists, I would expect copyright reverts to the authors. (?)