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Date:      Thu, 22 Jan 1998 23:12:56 -0500 (EST)
From:      "John S. Dyson" <dyson@FreeBSD.ORG>
To:        jak@cetlink.net (John Kelly)
Cc:        imp@village.org, chat@FreeBSD.ORG, hackers@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: Mike Shaver: Netscape gives away source code for Communicator
Message-ID:  <199801230412.XAA11541@dyson.iquest.net>
In-Reply-To: <34c82454.17691507@mail.cetlink.net> from John Kelly at "Jan 23, 98 05:06:07 am"

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John Kelly said:
> On Thu, 22 Jan 1998 20:40:48 -0700, Warner Losh <imp@village.org>
> wrote:
> 
> >The press release said GPL.
> 
> This is an interesting case of BSD vs. GPL.
> 
> If Netscape used a BSD type license, Microsoft could take it and add
> improvements and hide the improvements.  With GPL, they can still take
> it, but can't hide the improvements.  At least not without getting
> sued by Netscape.
> 
> So GPL is better for Netscape.
> 
I agree, in this case a GPLed Netscape is better for everyone.  Since it
is a complete work, and not likely to taint other software, it is probably
not bad to use GPL.  I would suggest specific relief from GPL regarding
programming interface specs though.

-- 
John                  | Never try to teach a pig to sing,
dyson@freebsd.org     | it just makes you look stupid,
jdyson@nc.com         | and it irritates the pig.



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