Francis Earl wrote:
Yes, it spreads like a virus as it takes away additional contributors
choices of how their own work can be licensed... But, since it can't
ever provide functionality covered by patented code much of the
development effort is simply a dead end.
Yes, it ensures it's only used how the author and copyright owner of
that code intends, DAMN THE BAD LUCK.
Perhaps it was only a tiny piece of code whose author had this
restrictive intent. Once the GPL has been applied, you can't know what
anyone else intended because they no longer have a choice if they want
to contribute at all. Or, like X, the original work wasn't GPL'd at all.
At least they can use the code,
and modify it to their hearts content... they just can't steal it from
the author who donated it to the community.
How could you steal something that was donated? And copyright
infringement isn't stealing anyway - it is copyright infringement.
It can include functionality of patented code provided the patent owner
allows it. There is nothing against that at all, in fact RedHat owns
several patents that it allows everyone to use provided they play by the
rules and don't act in a hostile mannor towards the community.
Anything could happen, I suppose. I don't expect all technology patents
to be donated to the public domain in my lifetime, so I expect I will
always need a commercial OS and an assortment of programs with
appropriate licenses.
The nature of GPL code ensures the code is never truly dead, anyone can
pick up the source, and hack on it to fit their requirements, and fork
it to continue maintenance.
And it ensures it can't have all the functionality you are likely to
need as long as there is technology covered by other, incompatible licenses.
--
Les Mikesell
lesmikesell@xxxxxxxxx
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