Unix System Laboratories

Unix System Laboratories (USL) was originally organized as part of Bell Labs in 1989. USL joined with the UNIX Software Operation, also a Bell Laboratories division, in 1990. It assumed responsibility for Unix development and licensing activities. It then became a separate wholly owned subsidiary, formed, owned, and operated by AT&T Corporation, the parent company of Bell Labs.

Unix System Laboratories was the plaintiff in the USL v. BSDi lawsuit initiated in 1992 against Berkeley Software Design, Inc and the Regents of the University of California over copyrights and trademarks related to Unix. USL asked the court for a preliminary injunction that would bar BSDi and the UC Berkeley from distributing the NET-2 software until the case was concluded. USL v. BSDi was settled out of court 1993 after the judge expressed doubt as to the validity of USL's claims.

In June 1993, Novell purchased USL and all of the Unix assets, including all copyrights, trademarks, and licensing contracts.

Famous quotes containing the words system and/or laboratories:

    The pace of science forces the pace of technique. Theoretical physics forces atomic energy on us; the successful production of the fission bomb forces upon us the manufacture of the hydrogen bomb. We do not choose our problems, we do not choose our products; we are pushed, we are forced—by what? By a system which has no purpose and goal transcending it, and which makes man its appendix.
    Erich Fromm (1900–1980)

    Hollywood is the only industry, even taking in soup companies, which does not have laboratories for the purpose of experimentation.
    Orson Welles (1915–1984)