Uli : There are few people which are interested in C++ source code,
especially among the users of a product like OpenCard.
Alain : You're absolutely right. There are even some of its developers,
like myself, that have no interest in C source code. The goal of
OpenCard, as it was for its predecessor HyperCard, is to make software
development insanely easy. In most peoples definition that includes the
doing as little scripting as possible.
Uli : Also, how many of those will actually want to change OC's
sources, and will want to explicitly order the sources? I think what it
boils down to will be maybe 50 CDs commercial distributors would have
to ship, and that's not that much work.
Alain : Right again.
Uli : Also, for that they'd get all the work we put into OC for free.
Alain : If that's not altruistic, then I don't know what is! ;-)
Uli : I was talking about the clause that you have to distribute this
stuff with sources or object to allow re-linking. This sounds to me
like this would allow that people ship the OC sources and a statically
linkable library of their code, thus allowing everyone to change OC's
sources and to then re-link with the static library to improve the OC
half of the product. I can't see any other reason why they'd put in
that clause.
Alain : But is the static library's source code under the same licence
as OC ?
Uli : And if they intend it this way, I wonder whether a commercial
company could ship their OC-based product just like any other SW
company including a note that people can obtain the code on a CD, and
the static lib of their proprietary code would be on that.
Alain : So OC is provided free and according to the conditions of our
OODL licence, but the proprietary code of the third-party developer is
packaged as a static lib that remains proprietary.
Uli : If that works, it doesn't sound bad. But I don't want any virus
spreading.
Alain : e.g. OC licence does not affect proprietary products developed
with it.
Uli : OTOH we could drop all these licenses and release this as
copyrighted FreeWare and require people to give credit to us somewhere
visible and would also prohibit selling the sources or removing any
copyright notes.
Alain : This is an option definitely worth considering.
Uli : Of course, mis-use would be rather easy,
Alain : No matter what scheme we eventually adopt, there will always be
a potential for mis-use. Some people are bad, most people are good. No
... I don't want to debate this last point! ;)
Uli : ... but there'd still be people who'd send in the sources.
Alain : Altruism lives! (sorry i couldn't resist)
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