"viral" (was RE: Licensing options for firmware)

[David Dillard]

> perpetrators of proprietary software

Perpetrators?

Hostility.  Check.



> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Cowan [mailto:jcowan at reutershealth.com] 
> Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 10:10 AM
> To: James W. Thompson, II
> Cc: license-discuss at opensource.org
> Subject: Re: "viral" (was RE: Licensing options for firmware)
> 
> James W. Thompson, II scripsit:
> 
> > Because the clause requires the propogation of the GPL licensing 
> > regime for no really good reason.
> 
> The FSF thought its reasons good and still does.
> 
> > It is viral, to sugar coat it is the ignorant thing to do.
> 
> "Hostility".  Check.
> 
> > The GPL should do more like the Sleepycat and require code release 
> > under reasonable terms.
> 
> When the GPL was released there were no other reasonable terms.
> 
> > How else would you describe the forced propogation of a 
> single license 
> > like this clause induces?
> 
> Force?  You dare to speak of force because something is 
> generously shared with you on terms, rather than being given 
> to you lock stock and barrel?
> 
> > My best thoughts are viral, infectious, perhaps compulsary would be 
> > more disarming, but the effect is still the same: "Do what 
> we say and 
> > do it our way or get sued!"
> 
> As opposed to the kind and gentle attitude of the 
> perpetrators of proprietary software.
> 
> --
> John Cowan  jcowan at reutershealth.com  www.reutershealth.com  
> www.ccil.org/~cowan Consider the matter of Analytic 
> Philosophy.  Dennett and Bennett are well-known.
> Dennett rarely or never cites Bennett, so Bennett rarely or 
> never cites Dennett.
> There is also one Dummett.  By their works shall ye know 
> them.  However, just as no trinities have fourth persons 
> (Zeppo Marx notwithstanding), Bummett is hardly known by his 
> works.  Indeed, Bummett does not exist.  It is part of the 
> function of this and other e-mail messages, therefore, to do 
> what they can to create him.
>