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Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.carno.net.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!munnari.OZ.AU!news.ecn.uoknor.edu!feed1.news.erols.com!cpk-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!news.bbnplanet.com!cam-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!uunet!in1.uu.net!198.6.9.51!news.thepoint.net!news.iquest.net!not-for-mail From: "John S. Dyson" <dyson@freebsd.org> Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.misc,comp.os.linux.networking,comp.os.linux.setup,comp.unix.bsd.misc,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy,comp.os.os2.advocacy Subject: Re: Linux vs whatever Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 08:57:22 -0500 Organization: John S. Dyson's home machine Lines: 62 Message-ID: <32ECB442.41C67EA6@freebsd.org> References: <32DFFEAB.7704@usa.net> <5c155c$p6u@raven.eva.net> <5c19pg$rf6@lynx.dac.neu.edu> <5c39sk$ddl@troma.rv.tis.com> <5c8jlm$50u@cynic.portal.ca> <m23evrulla.fsf@desk.crynwr.com> <32EA25AB.41C67EA6@freebsd.org> <5qC7y0gTzDLB091yn@ibm.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: dyson.iquest.net Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01 (X11; I; FreeBSD 3.0-CURRENT i386) Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.os.linux.misc:154397 comp.os.linux.networking:66264 comp.os.linux.setup:94036 comp.unix.bsd.misc:2039 comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy:51061 comp.os.os2.advocacy:263638 Mouth of the South wrote: (Removed bsdi from this pseudo-discussion.) > > In article <32EA25AB.41C67EA6@freebsd.org>, > "John S. Dyson" <dyson@freebsd.org> wrote: > > >FreeBSD is a fully integrated tool and OS, with runtime that can > >be put into embedded product without redistribution encumberances > > In other words, any greedy corporation can take the BSD source code, > add a few features to make a derived work, and sell their derived work > without revealing their source code, right? > Isn't that great!!! We are providing a research and development platform for commercial use. I disagree with your characterization of "greedy", simply because you are talking about the way that most companies work (they don't want their IP under the stranglehold of the GPL.) Frankly, I don't want my IP impounded by the GPL either, and that is the reason that I will not expend more than a little effort on GPL licensed software. > > Stallman had the right idea with the GPL, prohibiting restrictions on the > distribution of source code for derivative works. Linux under the GPL is > like fusion energy, self sustaining with no harmful waste. Since nobody > can create a derivative work from Linux and hide the source code, every > useful work derived from Linux adds value to it. > Of course, you forget about those that don't choose GPLed code BECAUSE of the stranglehold that GPL puts on their IP. > > Since no one can hide any Linux source code, Linux never loses any energy. > BSD, on the other hand, is like fission where it becomes divided and loses > energy every time some greedy bozo tries to hide the source code for their > derivative work. > This notion of greed that you are talking about appears to be an anathema to the way that the world really is. Are all property owners greedy in your estimation? How's about your computer? Since you own your computer, you are being greedy, and I want it :-).. Give me your computer and then you will be freed from your greed :-). > > Not only do these principles apply to Linux vs. BSD, but also to Linux vs. > operating systems from companies such as Microsoft and IBM, who imagine they > can forever continue to distribute products TOTALLY object code only. > > Their darkness will be replaced by the light of Linux. Your analogy is faulty, but entertaining :-). Remember, GPL is very seductive, but WRONG. Before doing anything with GPLed code, I would suggest that companies pass the GPL by their legal staff. (It is generally okay to use in-house, but the redistribution encumberances even apply in-house. Of course, software tainted by GPL comes under the restrictions of the GPL, and the associated redistribution encumberances.) John