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Scientific DataLink.. ei 850 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022 (212) 838-7200

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Dr. Phoebe Huang
Director, Scientific Data Services

Scientific Advisory Board

July 2, 1985

Dr. Bruce G. Buchanan

Prof f Computer Sc. Re
Seg Unoipiter Scrence Resear, Joshua Lederberg

Or. Francis H.C. Crick President

Spa cane’ Hess arr Proleeeor The Rockefeller University
Bie al i
Nobellaureate "1230 York Avenue

Dr. Alan J. Perlis New York, NY 10021

Eugene Higgins Professor

Dept. of Computer Science

Yale University Dear Dr. Lederberg:

Dr. Frederick Seitz

President E: . *

The Hockefeller University Finally I've gotten my hands on copies of Volumes III and IV of
Dr. Charies H. Townes the SDL Index to AI Research to send to you; we had temporarily
University Professor of Physics run out.

University of California, Berkeley
Nobel iaureate

During the last week or so, we've hit a dead end that you may
have the interest to help us circumnavigate. It's for a good cause - I
simply don't know whether you have the time or inclination.

There is a complicated relationship between Comtex and
Patrick Winston at the MIT AI Lab that traces back to the original
agreement permitting Comtex 7o publish the early MIT technical reports
(1958-March 1979): Ed Immergut, then the editorial director here,
entered into a publishing agreement with Marvin Minsky - though
Winston was director of the lab. There are legitimate claims and
gripes on both sides. The upshot is that Winsbon has refused to have
anything to do with us.

The consequence? We've been unable to obtain permission to
publish the 1979+ MIT reports; and the now 77 customers we have for
MIT part I continue to request the more current papers (they are near
impossible to get from MIT). More serious, this omission now
jeopardizes the configuration of any subject-based collections (i.e., in
expert systems, knowledge representation, vision, etc.): these would
make no sense without current MIT papers.

The MIT Patent, Copyright Licensing Office has attempted to
work with me, though they clearly cannot force Winston to do anything.
Karen Keefe has felt all along that one could wear Winston down.

Well I have written to him repeatedly, and truly believed that there
would be some response to this Jast letter, a copy of which I have
enclosed. I was wrong. There is no question that my efforts are
entirely futile.

Can you help us? When I had lunch with Charles Townes
yesterday, he suggested that perhaps I should ask Fred Seitz to ask
Herb Simon to intervene - to perhaps put some gentle pressure on
Winston. He also mentioned knowing you very well; and if he didn’t
suggest asking you directly, it was probably out of consideration. The
thought did occur to me, though.

If you have any inclination to help, would you let me know, or
your secretary can leave a message for me.

Sincerely,
“Phoebe Hany
Phoebe Huang
PH/jb

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