Subscription/Service Fees - OSD Intent

[David Davies]

On Wednesday, 28 March 2001 6:20 AM, David Johnson wrote

-> > To allow  the user to improve the software for themselves 
-> to suit there
-> > environments.
-> 
-> But you can do that without the software being Open Source. 
-> You do not need 
-> the approval of the OSI in order to make your source code 
-> available. There 
-> are dozens of software packages that are in no way Open or 
-> Free yet allow the 
-> user to modify the software for themselves.

So back to one of the questions in my original e-mail

"Is this a practice that is intended to be prohibited?"
[under the OSD]

A number of people seem to feel it is against the spirit of the OSD.
This may very well be the case. 

If so why isn't there a more specific clause in the OSD to clarify the point
?

At least one of the annotations (Rationale sections) could be expanded to
clarify that that is the intention of whichever clause has the effect of
limiting this action.

It has been suggested that clause 1. Free Redistribution or clause 7.
Distribution of License would limit such a license being accepted but
neither is specific or entirely clear in that regard.

Regards,
David Davies