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From: t.d.g.sandford@prds-grn.demon.co.uk (Thomas D.G. Sandford)
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc,comp.unix.advocacy,comp.unix.misc
Subject: Re: Linux vs FreeBSD
Followup-To: comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Date: 8 Dec 1995 01:06:10 GMT
Organization: Paradise Green Technical Services
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Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.os.linux.advocacy:30883 comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:10809 comp.unix.advocacy:12387 comp.unix.misc:20178
Larry Daffner (ldaffner@convex.com) wrote:
: I'd like to pint out something here. The GPL is NOT very complicated
: at all. There are 3 main points to the GPL.
(point 1 cut...)
: 2) Any derivatives of GPL works are GPL'ed. IE, If you use GPL code in
: a product, the product is placed under the GPL. That is, I can't take
: your GPL code, use it to make my own app and distribute it in binary
: only form. (Note that this is a lie in the case of GNU libraries, the
: restrictions are different).
It is this that is the problem for many people. It precludes the use
of GNU stuff (other than libraries) in any commercial work. It means that
not only do you have to distribute the GNU source, *but also your own
"added value"*. If your own work is commercially sensitive that can be
a major problem. You (Larry) may argue that this means that you (the
programmer) shouldn't use GNU stuff - we (those unhappy with GNU) argue it
means we *can't*. With the BSD licence, you can use the code, and put a big
notice in your documentation saying "Many thanks to the developers of (say)
FreeBSD for the implementation of the fizzbusting algorithm used in this code",
and reproduce the BSD copyright message.
In the end it's horses for courses. Personally it would give me a buzz if
if knew people all over the world were using code I had written to do
real work. Others may feel their code had been "stolen".
(point 3 deleted)
(Note: follow-ups trimmed to comp.unix.freebsd.misc and comp.os.linux.advocacy
only).
--
Thomas Sandford | t.d.g.sandford@prds-grn.demon.co.uk
Paradise Green Technical Services: Software/Hardware Design
and Theatre Technical Services