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Date:      Wed, 27 Feb 2002 11:01:54 -0600
From:      "Mike Meyer" <mwm-dated-1015261315.e80d24@mired.org>
To:        j mckitrick <jcm@FreeBSD-uk.eu.org>
Cc:        freebsd-chat@freebsd.org
Subject:   Re: First test of GPL in court
Message-ID:  <15485.4354.561280.729573@guru.mired.org>
In-Reply-To: <20020227163501.A66574@dogma.freebsd-uk.eu.org>
References:  <20020227142005.A16555@energyhq.homeip.net> <20020227132417.B64839@dogma.freebsd-uk.eu.org> <20020227052928.L12253@rain.macguire.net> <20020227133748.C64839@dogma.freebsd-uk.eu.org> <20020227054428.M12253@rain.macguire.net> <20020227135103.E64839@dogma.freebsd-uk.eu.org> <20020227061336.N12253@rain.macguire.net> <20020227142303.A65635@dogma.freebsd-uk.eu.org> <15484.63760.663944.125557@guru.mired.org> <20020227163501.A66574@dogma.freebsd-uk.eu.org>

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j mckitrick <jcm@FreeBSD-uk.eu.org> types:
> | what makes me think that so much stuff is GPL'ed not because people
> | are deceived by RMS, or agree with his goals, but because sharing
> | software is something that resonates in the hacker community.
> <bait>
> But they should realize the best form of sharing means no strings
> attached.  Much of that 'shareware' was public domain.
> </bait>

<byte>
Yes, but much of that "public domain shareware" had statements in it
saying things like "not for commercial use." Some of it had the
authors copyright, some didn't. All that really demonstrates is that
most of the authors had no inkling about either copyright law or what
public domain really meant.
</byte>

I agree that the best form of sharing is "no strings attached", and
the only software I've released that wasn't under something similar to
the BSD license was because of licensing restrictions that were on the
software before I got it.

But if we're going to allow people to distribute software under the
condition that the recipients not redistribute it at all, then
allowing them to distribute software under the conditions that the
recipients only redistribute it with source and under the same
conditions seems to be very reasonable. In fact, given the choice
between the two, I'll take the latter every time. Fortunately there
other choices.

> Makes me feel ancient at 30 years old.

Would it help if I talked about exchanging 9-track tapes of MVS
software with my colleagues?

	<mike
--
Mike Meyer <mwm@mired.org>			http://www.mired.org/home/mwm/
Independent WWW/Perforce/FreeBSD/Unix consultant, email for more information.

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