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Presents letters to the editor referencing articles and topics discussed in previous issues. Description of proprietary software packages; Importance of proprietary software packages in the computer field; Problems related to the access to the U.S. Government's scientific and technical information; Selection of IFIP Congresses sites.

The article focuses on the need for the United States government to improve computer software procurement since the enactment of the Brooks Bill in 1965. The relevant part of the Brooks Bill sets up computer-buying powers under the General Services Administration and gives strong guidance on the need to save the taxpayer's money in such procurements. For its time, the Brooks Bill performed an outstanding service. Through the years, however, the procurement process has woven a web that threatens to immobilize the people who are responsible for effective and innovative applications. The bureaucratic implementation of the Brooks Bill has been exquisitely precise--and completely blind to the changing economics of computer applications. The General Accounting Office has issued a report that indicates a desire to place software procurement by the government on a commodity basis. The only way that hardware and/or software procurement for the government can be improved is by thorough attention to the skills of the information systems staff, to the total costs of the whole information system and to the performance of the resulting systems when compared to management's requirements.

This article analyzes the pros and cons of patenting computer programs in the U.S. A proposed set of guidelines that would aid patent examiners in reviewing applications for computer program patents has raised opposition in Washington D.C. The consensus in the patent office is that the guidelines are inadequate. The House Judiciary Committee plans to hold hearings this year on an entire revamping of the patent laws in the U.S. Bell Laboratories is supporting the program patents, but most manufacturers remain solidly against patenting programs. Some software firms would like to receive program patents; however, the resistance shown by the Patent Office to patent computer programs is currently blocking the way.

This article presents information on various products related to the computer industry launched in the U.S. Sperry Rand Corp.'s Univac Division has announced the establishment of a new series of integrated computers that will span the small, medium and large-scale data processing market. The first members of the new 9000 computer series, recently unveiled, are the UNIVAC 9200 and UNIVAC 9300. A small, low-cost real-time computer for scientific, engineering and process control applications, Sigma 2, was announced on August 2, 1966 by Scientific Data Systems (SDS). Featuring multiprogramming and multiprocessing capabilities, Sigma 2 is the second real-time computer in the new SDS family of Sigma machines. A new, low-cost offline printer system, designed to relieve general purpose computers of routine printing operations, has been introduced by Potter Instrument Co. A new software package for the PDS 1020 digital computer has been developed by Pacific Data Systems Inc. of Santa Ana, California.

Focuses on the increase in regulation of computers by the U.S. government. Monopoly in the U.S. computer industry; Involvement of court cases in antitrust law; Difficulty in patenting in the computer field for the future availability of high quality, competitive software.