>I am NOT entering the debate as to what you can or cannot write on this
>forum.

Thank-you

>1) Could it be that Microsoft will look on this solution favourably
>anyway, if only to eliminate the risk of lawsuits (while I do not believe
>the recent Kaczmarek lawsuit has any merit, the fact is that it is bad press
>and unnecessary time and money expense for Microsoft).

I doubt it as it would set a very bad precedent. Fox 2.x was and is Y2K compliant. The issue rests with how you write software and understand the tool. If you understand the tool - and the software you write reflects that - you should be in good shape. Ms. Kaczmarek unfortunately - suffers from a lack of both it appears.

>2) If David Martin is purely selling a patch, a quick read of my old
>FoxPro for DOS licence does not seem to prevent a user from modifying
>the ESL as long as reverse engineering is not involved.

First, FoxPro DOS does not use an ESL - that is for FoxPro Windows. Second, it is a violation - according to folks at Microsoft. So, that point is moot.


>The main, issue, however, is that the product addresses a very real
>concern for those FP 2.x programmers who forgot that Year 2000 would
>come around some day ! Some have tried to pass the buck, as recent
>lawsuits show, but those who have not are left with a BIG headache.

You know the old saying - its not the fiddle - its the fiddler... If they have a headache - it is of thier own making.... They all should call 1-900-who-cares. It's all a terrible use of the American Legal System. Of course, this is not the first time the system has been abused. And, I suspect it won't be the last.

>Thus, with all the above in mind, as Evan implies it could well be that
>David Martin may find Microsoft extremely favourable to the idea if
>he decides to consult with them.

The proper road to take was for him to approach MS first - not to go out to market first. That is just plain stupid. Remember, when we buy Fox - we really purchasing the right to use the software - that is what a software license is.