Well, actually, apple has no choice. Because they use a modified bsd
package, and bsd is opensource under the gpl, apple is required by
law to release any and all opensource components they use as they
relate to bsd products. As a result, apple has been releasing each
and every new update on their opensource pages, this is only the
latest in a long line of releases, all of which are available for
general public use.
That's the benefit of using opensource products for those who use
them, when someone else takes them and uses them for other projects,
they too are required to release their source. Apple has done this,
and nobody can fault them for doing so, since so many companies
(especially large ones) try to hide the fact that they're using
opensource products, and never once give back, or even release their
source as the license requires them to do. You may remember the
whole cd protection scheme back around 200-2002 timeframe. It was
discovered that the folks who created that debacle were using
opensource products to create their copy protection. You can be sure
they caught all kinds of flack over that one, and needless to say,
that product didn't last very long.
Apple has been very cautious, and contributed much to the opensource
community in this way. I applaud their efforts, even if it doesn't
always benefit me directly, it certainly helps others, and that's
always a good thing.
<--- Mac Access At Mac Access Dot Net --->
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