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Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.carno.net.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!munnari.OZ.AU!news.mel.connect.com.au!news.access.net.au!news.teragen.com.au!cantor.edge.net.au!news.mira.net.au!news.vbc.net!vbcnet-west!samba.rahul.net!rahul.net!a2i!news.pbi.net!news.mathworks.com!arclight.uoregon.edu!newsfeed.uk.ibm.net!news-m01.ny.us.ibm.net!news-s01.ny.us.ibm.net!not-for-mail From: mouth@ibm.net (Mouth of the South) Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.misc,comp.os.linux.networking,comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.unix.bsd.misc,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy,comp.os.os2.advocacy Subject: Re: GPL Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1997 20:41:31 -0500 Lines: 34 Message-ID: <L3U8y0gTz/TM091yn@ibm.net> References: <32DFFEAB.7704@usa.net> <32ED1866.34F02393@indiana.edu> <5cl66d$l52@web.nmti.com> <5cmiuu$iud@garuda.synet.net> <5cokgi$alm@web.nmti.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: slip129-37-195-162.nc.us.ibm.net Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.os.linux.misc:155326 comp.os.linux.networking:66769 comp.os.linux.advocacy:81804 comp.unix.bsd.misc:2162 comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy:51465 comp.os.os2.advocacy:264584 In article <5cokgi$alm@web.nmti.com>, peter@nmti.com (Peter da Silva) wrote: >In article <5cmiuu$iud@garuda.synet.net>, >This doesn't address the question at hand, though, which is whether >the GPL is a "good thing" in a public policy sense, either in intent >(that's the Loyal Rebel Programmers versus the Evil Software Hoarders Bullseye. >or practice (that's the Does the BSD Copyright or the GPL work better >in practice for promoting the unimpeded use of software). Although JD claims that GPL is seductive, it is actually BSD that is seductive, luring unsuspecting programmers to write code for an OS that appears to have technical superiority, while in fact is licensed in a manner which chokes its potential growth. BSD appeals to the Evil Software Hoarders because they like to keep their derivative code a deep, dark secret so that, at least in their own minds, they can make pots of money selling their little secrets. Too bad for them, because plenty of money can be made by giving code away and selling professional services to support it. It's not much different from selling heroin. "Here, little customer, try these nice programs. You'll really like them." And then, once they ask for help maintaining and modifying the code, you know they're really hooked and WHAM@! you send them your consulting bill! It doesn't matter if you give away the source code, because in most cases they can't possibly manage it without help. If they take a dislike to you, since they have source code they can fire you and get somebody else, but so what? There are plenty more technology junkies where they came from.