"Open Source" Motif

[Justin Wells]

On Mon, May 15, 2000 at 10:09:40PM -0700, David Johnson wrote:

> > Even supposing that the license DOES restrict use to be only with open 
> > source operating systems--how can you throw this license out, and not also
> > throw out the GPL? 
> 
> The GPL has specific provisions for operating systems, and the compilers
> and libraries that come with them. There is nothing stopping anyone
> from porting a Unix GPLd program to Windows.
> 
> It would be very ironic for GNU to preach on freeing the users from
> proprietary software, only to specifically deny that freedom to users
> of certain proprietary software. Hmmm, if Windows users had to switch to
> GNU, Linux or BSD in order to get freedom, then how did they get the
> freedom to switch? But since the GPL allows does not prevent anyone
> from using the software on Windows, the point is moot...

However, philosophically:

  1) Both licenses discriminate on the basis of being an operating system.

  2) Both licenses discriminate on the basis of "free" vs. "non-free" 
     software (or "open-source" vs. "non open-source")

In particular, whereas the GPL discriminates against proprietary software 
UNLESS it is an operating system, the OML discriminates against proprietary
software IF it is an operating system. 

I can't see how you can come up with a fair interpretation of the OSD that
allows what the GPL does, but does not allow what the OML does.

Justin