"Open Source" Motif

David Johnson david at usermode.org
Tue May 16 05:09:40 UTC 2000


<snipping off a huge distribution list>

On Mon, 15 May 2000, Justin Wells 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...

-- 
David Johnson...
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