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Re: XYWRITE 4.018 Source Code | request for resources



I think i misspoke, I believe it was Lotus Magellan that they open sourced. 
Thx,
Russ


ly@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:   

code, as Qualcomm did with Eudora. 
But I guess there are often reasons not to. For example, one of the most interesting products of the
mid 90s was Font Chameleon (forget the manufacturer) which Adobe bought and then used its technology
as part of its CFF format. They would not be releasing that tech now I don't think! On the other
hand, when Adobe bought Macromedia (reportedly for Flash), I think they basically donated
Fontographer to Yuri Yarmola. Most unfortunately, however, the code for the best of all versions of
Fontographer, 5 beta, had disappeared and simply could not be recovered. Hard to believe but that is
the story.Just found more info on Font Chameleon thanks to the redoubtable Thomas Phinney for anyone
who is interested: https://www.thomasphinney.com/2023/02/why-did-adobe-discontinue-font-chameleon-in-the-90s/
On Wed, 8 Apr 2026 at 21:54, russurquhart1@xxxxxxxxxxx <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I tend to agree with you, I only mentioned as that was what I recalled. Thanks for your thoughts.
As, I think we all acknowledge the Xywrite is abandonware, it would have been nice if they would
have put the source out, in an open source format, onok at it and see it. I'm pretty sure the
original bitmap programs for Apple/MS, have done this as well.
Just a thought!
Russ
ly@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:   

it from Anne from NB long ago. It is well known that she monitors this list. Because we have
not, it is clear that they only licensed but did notrt of license fee, but that is merely a guess.
We have been extremely public about treating xywrite as abandonware for well over a decade now, and
nothas long, long, long since run out. At this point, there is no possibility of a legal challenge.
On Wed, 8 Apr 2026 at 18:35, russurquhart1@xxxxxxxxxxx <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I remember those conversations way back. I had a question, I seem to recallne for NB. If that is so,
is their any potential liability there of reverseThanks,
Russ
ly@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:   

write was abandonware, and we determined that it was. Anybody with an interest in disputing that was
contacted and did not respond. Years have passed.�

On Wed, 8 Apr 2026 at 17:40, Harry Binswanger <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
I'm not a lawyer, but 40 years ago I dated one while she was in law 
school, so my opinion carries a lot of weight. Xy is abandonware. We 
can take "adverse possession" and after a time we will own it. Now, 
NB is not in that category. It's code is very much theirs.

Carl, I believe you have even better legal training than I.

Regards,
Harry Binswanger

At 01:20 PM 4/7/2026, you wrote:
>> 
>>and will keep pushing ahead. I may extend the work further, but so 
>>far I&rsquom honestly disappointed by the limited response and lack 
>>of resources, information, etc. I requested.
> 
>and not accusatory annoyance.
>
> 
>knowledge to pitch it at Xyghost&rsquos level. I can&rsquot begin to 
>understand most of what s/he reports.
>
> 
>on a non-standard Hyperion computer in 1983(?).  If any of us are 
>programming these days, it is probably with a relatively high level program.
>
> 
>around. I can only cheer from the sidelines.
>
> 
>issue unless the modified code were used for economic benefit. If I 
>paid for Xy 4.x, and someone produces an improved version, whoever 
>holds the copyright is not being economically impacted by my use of 
>the modified version.
>
> 
>to market a Xy 5.x, but after all these years this seems unlikely.
>
>Myron (Gochnauer)
>