Still no new license -- but draft text available

[John W. Eaton]

Grant Griffin <g2 at seebelow.org> writes:

> I have--long ago.  I have read everything I can find on the GNU web site
> about the GNU philosophy (except the foreign-language translations of
> the GPL. ;-)  I've also gone through the OSI site, and read all of Eric
> S. Raymond's work (which may or may not apply).  So if I remain ignorant
> on GPL/copyleft, it's probably some sort of fault in my genes. <wink>

> [...]

> In GNUspeak, the "free" part means both "free in a cost sense" and "free
> in a freedom sense".

Grant, if you reall have read the GPL and all the GNU philosophy that
you can find on the FSF web site, it seems incredible to me that you
would make this statement.  But perhaps you missed (or simply chose to
ignore) the second paragraph of the preamble to the GPL.  Here it is,
so you don't have to go find it:

    When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not
  price.  Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you
  have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for
  this service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it
  if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it
  in new free programs; and that you know you can do these things.

Note the first sentence.  ``... we are referring to FREEDOM, not PRICE.''

And sure, software that is released under the terms of the GPL is
encumbered by the restriction that the source and derivatives based on
it remain available.  What is the problem?  There are many things
which I cannot leagally do, such as sell myself into slavery.  Does
that restriction enhance or restrict my freedom?

No need to reply.  By now I think I've heard all the arguments a
thousand and two times.

Around and around we go...

jwe

-- 
www.che.wisc.edu/octave | Thanking you in advance.  This sounds as if the
www.che.wisc.edu/~jwe   | writer meant, "It will not be worth my while to
                        | write to you again."        -- Strunk and White