Richard Stallman wrote:
> The license says that if you distribute a modified version to anyone
> you must distribute a copy to the maintainer.
Small correction: You only need to send the maintainer a copy if he asks
for it. This is the text:
---------------------
If you distribute a modified version of Vim, you are encouraged to send the
maintainer a copy, including the source code. Or make it available to the
maintainer through ftp; let him know where it can be found. If the number of
changes is small (e.g., a modified Makefile) e-mailing the diffs will do.
When the maintainer asks for it (in any way) you must make your changes,
including source code, available to him. The e-mail address to be used is
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
---------------------
Obviously I did this to make sure that I get all the useful patches and
can include them in the official version if I want to.
> It is this singling out of one particular person for special
> privileges that makes the license fail to qualify as free software.
> Free software includes the freedom to decide when you want to
> redistribute.
Well, that's your definition of "free software". Most people have
another one, depending on their background. When an advertisement says
"you get free software with this computer", you know it means for-free
software. Thus at least the term "free software" is context dependend.
Note that the GPL also doesn't give you the freedom to decide when you
want to redistribute, you must supply the source code. My opinion is
that it's fair to send your changes back to the person you got the
software from. If I understand the GPL correctly, it requires you to
send your changes to the person who gets the binary. Sounds like a
minor detail to me, not something you would want to waste time on
discussing (unless that's your job, perhaps). I have a few bugs to
fix...
--
TIM: That is not an ordinary rabbit ... 'tis the most foul cruel and
bad-tempered thing you ever set eyes on.
ROBIN: You tit. I soiled my armour I was so scared!
"Monty Python and the Holy Grail" PYTHON (MONTY) PICTURES LTD
/// Bram Moolenaar -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- http://www.moolenaar.net \\\
((( Creator of Vim -- http://vim.sf.net -- ftp://ftp.vim.org/pub/vim )))
\\\ Help me helping AIDS orphans in Uganda - http://iccf-holland.org ///
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