Quoting Andy Sy ([EMAIL PROTECTED]): > RMS should be thankful enough as it is that Linus chose the GNU > utilities instead of say, the BSD ones (which would serve the purpose > equally well)....
Ironically enough, when you look at the key software (e.g., build toolchain) used on the BSDs, what you see is almost entirely GNU tools. (Exceptions include libc and the make utility.) > BSD and MPL-style licenses reflect this ideal just as much and without > the corresponding "holier-than-thou" attitude. (1) The sole meaning of a licence is its legal effect. It's a grant of non-default rights under copyright law. Everything else you hear is advocacy noise. (2) One man's ideal is another man's nightmare, and he who owns the copyright gets to determine the licensing (if any). Thus, if you (generic "you") don't like the terms of someone else's software, you're free to write your own. And I can even suggest where you can get a toolchain for that. ;-> > It's interesting to note how companies like Trolltech and MySQL find > that the GNU license as-is is clearly not viable for commercial > purposes and have resorted to dual licensing their offerings. How odd. I'd phrase it precisely the other way around: Multiple licensing is a very cool trick, and many business/commercial effects that can be achieved with it are not possible _without_ copyleft licensing. Ironically enough, you yourself have supplied an example. Please see, below. > Anyway, I don't believe we necessarily need extremists to help counter > 'people compromising their principles'. Extremist: Someone whose views you don't share, and whose views you wish to discredit without actually addressing their merits. > RMS and GPL have their places in the free software community, but they > are far from being the be-all and end-all of it. Wow, you certainly gave _that_ straw man a beating! Was it hard work? > Look at the Delphi components scene for which many purveyors have been > supplying source code for their components without any regard for the > GPL or what RMS seems to consider gospel truths. Correction: Please have a look at the terms of usage for Borland Kylix Community Edition. -- Cheers, "I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate Rick Moen those who do. And, for the people who like country music, [EMAIL PROTECTED] denigrate means 'put down'." -- Bob Newhart _ Philippine Linux Users Group. Web site and archives at http://plug.linux.org.ph To leave: send "unsubscribe" in the body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe to the Linux Newbies' List: send "subscribe" in the body to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
