Return to BSD News archive
Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.carno.net.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!munnari.OZ.AU!news.mel.connect.com.au!news.mel.aone.net.au!grumpy.fl.net.au!news.webspan.net!news1.exit109.com!www.nntp.primenet.com!nntp.primenet.com!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: Tue, 28 Jan 1997 18:46:22 -0500 Organization: John S. Dyson's home machine Lines: 33 Message-ID: <32EE8FCE.2781E494@freebsd.org> References: <32DFFEAB.7704@usa.net> <32ED1866.34F02393@indiana.edu> <5cl66d$l52@web.nmti.com> <32EE3C3C.5534B736@indiana.edu> <5clhf9$l60@web.nmti.com> <32EE7EC9.38809021@indiana.edu> 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:154631 comp.os.linux.networking:66378 comp.os.linux.setup:94219 comp.unix.bsd.misc:2062 comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy:51164 comp.os.os2.advocacy:263884 Lars Hofhansl wrote: > > Peter da Silva wrote: > > > > That's true, however RMS has been known to be creative in his > > interpretation of what an "independant and separate work" is (so, for > > example, if you use interfaces that only exist in a GPLed program > > or library then your work is GPL). > > > > If this is the case, I fully agree with you. That would be an > unnecessary obstacle in developing new software... > > Lars I have not been trying to be an a**hole in my GPL-skeptical stance, but GPL has problems (like the above) that can make one vulnerable under certain circumstances. Products and markets change, and GPL (in certain circumstances) takes away degrees of freedom for the developer of a product, and might cause some problems for him/her later on. I always suggest passing the GPL by an knowlegeable lawyer who understands the industry and the ramifications of the license. If GPL is okay for your circumstance, then it is okay (cant believe that I said that :-)). Using GPL software "by default" as "free" softare might cause some initially unforseen problems. READ AND UNDERSTAND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE LICENSE!!! John