[OT} How to un-GPL parts of a GPL'd module.

[Chris Watson]

On Tuesday, October 8, 2002, at 11:20  AM, sismex01 at hebmex.com wrote:

>
> Well, there *is* the problem of corporations trying to take
> technology which isn't theirs and gaining zillions off it,
> and then burying said technology so other's won't benefit
> from it.  It's happened with plenty of BSD technology which
> ended up in NT, and then became patented by M$ (IIRC).

Wrong. I don't know how this myth got started but linux people just 
love to cite this. There is *very little* BSD code in any windows 
products.
What the real story is... Microshaft bought out a small company 
(typical MS action) that had network tools based on standard BSD 
utilities. MS simply inherited them as part of the buyout. And as far 
as the "omg! corporate monster X stole my code!!!! and made a fortune 
on it!!!" thats just the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard 
spewed. Look a company cant make money using a block of code that is 
under the BSDL just by making that exact block a binary. The only way 
they can make money is to take that block and *add value to it*. Which 
means bolting on all the cool/hard crap that open source people never 
want to do. Because it is not fun. I get tired of hearing how someone 
stole BSD code. BSD code is *free*. If you don't want people to USE 
your code then just don't give it out. Period. But don't pull a GPL 
strong arm tactic by trying to force people into your socialist view of 
life. The GPL is just as evil and bad as MS except on the other end of 
the spectrum.

> Then you see plenty of other technologies which *were* public
> domain, or at least didn't have any heavy licensing (or rather,
> *formal* licensing) behind them, and then they were copied
> by some opportunist and subsequently patented, resulting in
> the net loss of said tech.  Take a look at the IRC robot
> fiasco going on.

That is a totally different issue. And has nothing to do with either 
licensing scheme. Your beef here is with the completely 
stupid/retarded/jack ass US patent system. The whole damn patent office 
should be abolished. It is a blatant train wreck. Pure and simple. 
Write your congressman/woman.

> So there actually *is* a need for the GPL, to help keep things
> fair; it's no fun to be inventing stuff and then setting it free,
> if there's others with no notion of playing fairly taking all,
> making zillions, and shutting others out.  There's countless
> evidence of it going on every day, you just need take a look
> and read around.

To destroy IP, kill capitalism, and put programmers out or work isn't 
quite what id call fair.
Write GPL app
???
PROFIT!!!
Realize no one is buying what you are giving out for free.
File chapter 11.

Again the whole GNU/FSF/GPL gang is as evil as MS, it's just the other 
side of the coin.

*waits for the ensuing gang of GPL thugs to attack*

Chris
--
"I feel..thin. Sort of stretched, like... butter scraped over too much 
bread. I need a holiday a very long holiday."