BMB Compuscience

BMB Compuscience was a Canadian software company responsible for creating Sopwith 1 and 2 between 1984-86. Apparently, the company was noted outside of game circles for creating accounting software, as well as database, networking, and geographical information software following Sopwith.

In 1986 BMB created a relational database system for the Atari ST called The Manager described by its creators as a "paperless office" which offered mainframe capability with virtually unlimited storage.

In that same year, BMB Compuscience announced a network called Imaginet that connected IBM PCs with Atari 520STs. At the time, the network cost $900 for the first IBM PC, which functioned as the file server, $800 for each additional PC, and $500 for each ST. Transmission rate were 2 megabits per second.

It is this Imaginet service that Sopwith's multiplayer feature was supposed to work on. It leads one to wonder if Sopwith was ever released on the Atari 520ST?

Efforts to contact BMB Compuscience have been unsuccessful. From documents lingering on the Internet, it would seem that BMB was involved in some sort of infringement litigation in 1989 that may have shut the company down.

Here is an interesting reference to the company in a copyright legal brief:

"Use" in an Internet Context

As with corporate names, the mere use of a domain name does not result in "use" for purposes of trade-mark entitlement. Proof of use on the Internet with respect to products, as contrasted with services, raises technical difficulties in creating a trade-mark. The difficulties are not as great for digital products as they are with hard goods.

For example, in Internet based transactions, it is not hard to imagine title to products passing at the time of the transaction. This is consistent with the instantaneous payment possible in such a transaction. Additionally, it is conceivable that possession might also pass in the case of digital products. The trade-mark must be in "use" at this point to qualify for registration, or to constitute an act of infringement. In either of these circumstances, it is possible to imbed the trademark in the electronic goods to constitute marking and use for purposes of the act.

See BMB Compuscience Canada Ltd. v. Bramalea Ltd.(1989) 22 C.P.R. (3d) 561 (F.C.T.D.).

As of 1991, BMB Compuscience was located at the following address: BMB Compuscience Canada, Ltd., 500 Steeles Avenue, Milton, Ontario L9T 3P7, Canada.