On Wed, 27 Mar 2002, Phoebus Dokos wrote: > 1. The copyright for SMSQ/E is retained by Tony Tebby (Nothing weird here, > just like Linux) > 1. There are (currently) two official distributors of LICENSED binaries and > ONLY official Distributors can SELL SMSQ/E. > 2. The registrar (and only the registrar) is making available the SMSQ/E > sources to anyone that wants them free of charge, provided that the person > sends return postage in form of IRCs and Media for the sources to be put > on. (See also No. 7 for the contradiction) > 3. Any modifications CANNOT be publicised until approved by the registrar > 4. Any modifications/new code that is approved and entered in the source > loses it's copyright from its author and derives the overall copyright > status of SMSQ/E. (In that aspect, modifications from 3rd parties on the > modifications from the 2nd party does not need to include the writer's > copyright message/license but only the SMSQ/E license) > 5. ANYONE CAN create a distribution for his own use from the sources but > cannot give it away to no one free of charge or otherwise > 6. It is STRICTLY prohibited for anyone to make the sources available on > the internet (unless given specific permission to do so by the registrar or > the copyright holder) > 7. It is NOT STRICTLY prohibited (but in any case requires prior approval) > for a PD library/Shareware catalog/Individual to give away the SMSQ/E > sources provided no fee is charged (same as no. 2)
Let me make that a lot simpler... There are two ways to get SMSQ: 1. For free. Get the source, pay NOTHING, and compile it yourself. 2. Pay an official reseller for the executable. There are two ways to give SMSQ: 1. For free, accepting no payment, you may distribute the source. 2. Be an official reseller, accept payment, and pay the required license fee up the chain to TT. There are two ways to add code to SMSQ: 1. Submit them to the maintainer, who will examine them for compatibility and compliance and accept or reject them. 2. Distribute them as source only. There are two ways to make money from SMSQ: 1. Be Tony Tebby. 2. ... And as a final comment... Mr Tony Tebby, Hi, I'm a user. I first used QDOS in 1984, and I think it's great. I really appreciate that you would like to open up SMSQ to a wider programming audience and I like the way you're handling it, on the whole. However, the restriction on distributing executables, even for extremely limited testing purposes and the submission requirement being too all-encompassing, may be a little too broad and need some refinement. I do not wish to reduce the chance of this happening, and I realise SMSQ is your child, but it's a big world out there, and for any child to grow up it must be exposed to some risks. It's part of development (no pun intended!) So please, let us have a developer's license to encourage people to make SMSQ applicable to a wider audience and to really help it grow. It doesn't harm you, and it would certainly help you. In my humble opinion, Dave Your happy user.
