English: Homebrew Computer Club Newsletter Volume 2, Issue 1, January 31, 1976
A LETTER FROM MITS - Just as the Newsletter was in final preparation a letter arrived from Bill Gates via MITS. Reproduced (the only MITS "software" we have ever reproduced) on page 2, it should be read by every computer hobbyist. Surely many of you will want to write to Bill. Send a copy of your correspondence to me at the HOMEBREW COMPUTER CLUB NEWSLETTER, P. 0. Box 626, Mountain View, CA 94042 and I will try to summarize your comments.
Editor: Robert Reiling
Dave Bunnell of MITS sent the letter via special delivery mail to every major computer publication in the country. The letter was also published in MITS Computer Notes (February 1976, page 3), People's Computer Company (March 1976), and Radio-Electronics (May 1976, pages 14 and 16).
Français : Homebrew Computer Club Newsletter - Volume 2, n°1 : 31 janvier 1976.
UNE LETTRE DU MITS - Alors que la newsletter était presque prête, unelettre de Bill Gates est arrivée du MITS. La reproduction (le seul "programme" du MITS que nous ayons reproduit) en page 2 devraient être lu par tous les friands d'ordinateurs. Il est certain que plusieurs d'entre vous vont vouloir répondre à Bill. Envoyer moi une copie de votre correspondance à l'adresse : HOMEBREW COMPUTER CLUB NEWSLETTER, P. 0. Box 626, Mountain View, CA 94042 et j'essaierais d'en faire un résumé de vos commentaires.
Rédacteur : Robert Reiling
Dave Bunnell du MITS a envoyé la lettre aux principales publications d'informatique du pays. La lettre a été publiée dans le Computer Notes du MITS (3 février 1976), People's Computer Company (mars 1976) et Radio-Electronics (mai 1976, pages 14 et 16).
Bill Gates sent this "Open Letter" to the Homebrew Computer Club and an exact copy was printed in the January 1976 issue of the Homebrew Computer Club Newsletter. The Homebrew Computer Club Newsletter was published between 1975 and 1977 without a copyright notice and is in the public domain.
When a person sends a letter to the editor of a newspaper or magazine it is assumed it will be printed under the copyright of that publication. The author has the right to send the letter to multiple publications and each can print it. Bill Gates did just that. In addition to Homebrew Computer Club Newsletter, the letter was printed in the February 1976 issue of Computer Notes, the March 1976 issue of People's Computer Company and the May 1976 issue of Radio Electronics. It is apparent from reading the letter that Mr. Gates wanted it published and he did not include a copyright notice or other restrictions. Since he distributed (published) the letter without a copyright notice before 1978, the letter is in the public domain.
Note that it may still be copyrighted in jurisdictions that do not apply the rule of the shorter term for US works (depending on the date of the author's death), such as Canada (50 p.m.a.), Mainland China (50 p.m.a., not Hong Kong or Macao), Germany (70 p.m.a.), Mexico (100 p.m.a.), Switzerland (70 p.m.a.), and other countries with individual treaties.
{{Information |Description ={{en|1=Homebrew Computer Club Newsletter Volume 2, Issue 1, January 31, 1976}} |Source =Original scanned by Len Shustek |Author =Swtpc6800 en:User:Swtpc6800 Michael Holley |Date =30 December 2007...