Oh, now that just sucks.
I'm trying to get some software I wrote released under the GPL. The software in question, developed under and for Unix, is owned by a company that no longer uses said software, being that they switched completely over from Unix to Windows NT. [1] I've been slowly working on this for several months now. Not continuously, but as I remember to do so.
The code has an interesting history. It's a library of code I developed over a period of several years working with Armigeron Information Services, Inc. [2] It became part of the property the above company bought when they bought us out a few years ago, but since we left, the above company has since changed to NT and the library has pretty much languished in obscurity ever since.
I was working with a friend of mine at the company who was in charge of the IT department there. He was willing to sign off on the code, but my friend Chuck, [3] who sold the code in the first place, wants the president of said company to sign off on it.
Last week we sent a letter to the president outlining what I want to do and asking them to assign the rights back to me (or at least allow me to GPL the code and release it). I haven't heard back from them and just now decided to call my friend to see what's going on.
<RANT>
Not remembering the number of the company, I decide to check their website. What do I see?
[USEMAP:————.gif]
(Oh, did I mention I'm using Lynx? It's faster than loading up Netscape). Fine. I click the link.
[USEMAP:————.gif]
MAP: http://www.————.com/#imagemap
1. http://www.————.com/index1.html 2. http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/alternates/index.html [4]
Fine. I click on the first link, knowing that Macromedia does NOT make a plug-in for Lynx.
[EMBED]
That's it. Completely useless. All I'm trying to do is find their @#$@#$@# phone number and there is NO way to navigate that site without the proper plug-in.
In-BLOODY-sane.
So I find the number the old fasioned way, I looked it up in the phone book.
</RANT>
“Hello, the Such-n-Such Corporation. How may I help you?” inquires the receptionist.
“Yes, may I speak to So-n-So please?”
“I'm sorry, but So-n-So no longer works here,” said the receptionist. “Is there someone else that can help you?”
“ … ” I was without speech. Granted this is someone I don't normally hang out with on a day-to-day or even a month-to-month basis, but I wasn't expecting this at all.
“Sir?”
“Ahhhh … oh … ummm … no, that's quite alright. Thank you,” and I hung up.
Great. Now what?
[3] http://www.armigeron.com/people/chuck/
[4] http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/alternates/index.html