On Sat, Jul 19, 2003 at 11:09:13AM -0000, MJ Ray wrote: > > We wouldn't even consider this argument if someone were applying it to > > a C compiler or OS kernel. > > Wouldn't we? Could a C compiler could still contain a free software > linker and not be wrong to call the linker free software? Just like
If it was an eg. BSD-licensed linker packaged with a non-free compiler, sure. I could simply remove the non-free parts. If the linker's license required that it be packaged with the non-free compiler, however, then the linker would not be free software, either. Likewise, if a document's license requires that it be packaged with a non-free manifesto, the document isn't free, either. There would be fewer problems if invariant sections were only immutable, not unremovable. -- Glenn Maynard
