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A number of network drivers, PCMCIA support (likely not around at the time of the Apple possible purchase though) and similar were either lifted wholesale from Linux with some vague code releases that didn't always compile and rarely gave compatible binaries; or licenced from their original copyright holders for the Linux version.
There was also Intel licenced code in the USB stack (again, later than the Apple era), Metrowerks licenced IDE, licenced MIDI stack, the 3D rendered, some other drivers were written and bought in from external sources.
What Be could have sold was about 80% of an OS with a lot of licencing issues to sort out.
"licenced MIDI stack"
Uh?
By stack, you mean software MIDI synth here, right?
The MIDI *stack* as you called it, actually called Midi Kit 2, was fully designed by Be Inc.
The fact that the out-of-box software MIDI synth was using licensed technology never tainted the MIDI *stack*, as that synth was just a plain application intercommunicating with the MIDI kit, like any other MIDI applications.
"the 3D rendered"
Yeah, right, like NeXTStep wasn't using OpenGL licensed code too.
There is many reasons for the NeXT vs Be choice made by Apple at this time, but licencing issue was never a major one.
Except if you've considered Steve Jobs a "technology licence"...





Member since:
2005-06-29
Wait, what?