| Wayne Myers on Wed, 15 Oct 2003 17:47:36 +0200 (CEST) |
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| Re: <nettime> Linux strikes back III |
> In the light of the SCO stuff some may find this report of use ... Why? Haven't seen such nonsense and FUD in a while. > But the spread of Linux could be hurt by another group--and ironically, > it's the free-software proponents themselves. [GPL FUD snipped] > Under the license, if you distribute GPL software in a product, you must > also distribute the software's source code. And not just the GPL code, but > also the code for any "derivative works" you've created--even if > publishing that code means anyone can now make a knockoff of your product. [More GPL FUD snipped] Or debug it. Or improve it. Or port it to a new system. Or use it. The GPL is very clear. It allows many individuals and companies to use software that they otherwise would not be able to use. A few companies have tried to take advantage of the GPL, for commercial gain, in a way that violates the license. There is nothing 'dark' or 'sinister' about the FSF organising to catch and squash such abuses. There is, though, something 'dark' or 'sinister' about reading a characterisation of the FSF's efforts to enforce compliance to its license as 'dark'. Why shouldn't the FSF enforce its license? The GPL wouldn't much use to anyone if it was never enforced. The only use this report could possibly be is along the lines of 'here is an example of the complete tosh people who are scared of the GPL will produce.' If I am mistaken, and there was indeed a coherent reason why the enforcement of the GPL will 'hurt the spread of Linux' (your non sequitometer should be binging loudly about now) embedded in the report, please do correct me and point the reason out. Otherwise, the only possible purpose of the article was to hurt the spread of Linux *itself*. In which case, why bother with it? Cheers, Wayne -- Wayne Myers http://www.waz.easynet.co.uk/ # distributed via <nettime>: no commercial use without permission # <nettime> is a moderated mailing list for net criticism, # collaborative text filtering and cultural politics of the nets # more info: [email protected] and "info nettime-l" in the msg body # archive: http://www.nettime.org contact: [email protected]