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GPL IS political
The basic problem is that the GPL IS political with a big agenda behind it that puts it squarely at odds with commercial software houses. This creates a confrontation where one does not need to exist. This despite the fact that most heavy-weight 'open-source' support is from cmmercial interests.

The FSF has hijacked 'free' to make it into a Communist Manifesto rather than leaving simply as a wish to give of one's own efforts to the common use, regardless of how it is used. That free is not free, but shackled!

The GPL is trying to prevent commercialisation and force contribution. The fact is that most want to use, but few want to give. For a lot of companies, and individuals as well, the cost of making the contributions back may not be worth the 'free' in the first place. Time is money, and time can always be spend doing more productive things (a subjective call!).

Basically, too much agenda tied into the rules makes for the complexity when trying to get adopted in the real world, rather than the fairyland of ideology. I'm not against application of ideology to the real world, but it has to be the right match. I think the GPL is trying to mismatch its ideology and that is why problems start
Posted by: Patanjali   Posted on: 01/21/08 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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GPL IS political  Patanjali | 01/21/08
I guess you're not ready for the change.  kozmcrae | 01/21/08
What's wrong with communist manifesto  s_souche | 01/22/08
The GNU GPL is a legal instrument  AGNUcius | 01/24/08
different perspectives  s_souche | 01/25/08
Virile ignorance?  cburkitt2 | 01/22/08
Exactly - like "Red Meat" Republicans  drprodny | 01/23/08
re: GPL IS political  deaf_e_kate | 01/22/08
Seems to be a bit of frustration here...  Timpraetor | 01/22/08
his said "The GPL is trying to prevent commercialisation" "  deaf_e_kate | 01/23/08
But that does not even imply that you can't sell GPL software.  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
The meaning of 'Commerce'  AGNUcius | 01/24/08
How does it force contribution?  Michael Kelly | 01/22/08
I'm afraid your wrong  s_souche | 01/22/08
Not quite right either  voska1 | 01/22/08
But the recipient is the company itself  Michael Kelly | 01/27/08
Just so much hot air  TripleII | 01/22/08
it prevents Tivo, Sony, MS, et all from stealing other people's work  Ole Man | 01/22/08
EULA  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/22/08
You should find a new job  Ole Man | 01/22/08
Re: You should find a new job  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/24/08
Judging by your article  Ole Man | 02/03/08
EULAs and GPLs and MPLs are cool  Counselorleo | 01/23/08
Re: EULAs and GPLs and MPLs are cool  none none | 01/24/08
Not only for developers  Azrael29a | 01/24/08
That's not what Ed is writing about.  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
Primarily for Distributors, The GNU GPL is a Free(dom) Trade Agreement  AGNUcius | 01/24/08
Gandhi was an ideologue too!  kmashraf | 01/22/08
Stallman is more Stalin...  BFD | 01/22/08
Who's choice is it?  AGNUcius | 01/24/08
Let's FORK Microsoft's EULA  swbobcat | 01/22/08
Workers vs. Consumers  AGNUcius | 01/24/08
Good luck  John L. Ries | 01/21/08
I never said modify GPL 2.0  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/21/08
It can't be done ...  George Mitchell | 01/22/08
I think you're wrong  Antagonist | 01/22/08
Think again ...  George Mitchell | 01/22/08
But Why  DannyO_0x98 | 01/22/08
Tell M$ You Want to FORK M$'s EULA  swbobcat | 01/22/08
And just how do you expect  tracy anne | 01/23/08
GNU GPL downstream versioning  AGNUcius | 01/24/08
Linus' lack of involvement...  bjbrock | 01/22/08
Re: Linus involvement  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/22/08
Commenting and being involved are two...  bjbrock | 01/22/08
He 'invented' Linux, not the FSF  balsover | 01/22/08
Not a traitor to the cause.  bjbrock | 01/22/08
To late I think  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/22/08
Do you think...  bjbrock | 01/22/08
Linus "was" invloved  Timpraetor | 01/22/08
Politics - not an excuse.  bjbrock | 01/22/08
L:inus couldnt collaborate with others. Shocking!  zeke123 | 01/22/08
A well presented argument  Timpraetor | 01/22/08
An unbalanced argument - read the EULA!  Mitch 74 | 01/22/08
Huh?  Timpraetor | 01/22/08
While you are criticizing the "viral" GPL  Ole Man | 01/22/08
Microsoft's EULA isn't the same thing s the GPL.  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
You are spouting more crap I see  goxk@... | 01/24/08
Re: Microsoft's EULA isn't the same thing s the GPL.  none none | 01/24/08
Similar experiences  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/22/08
What is ambiguous?  Robert Crocker | 01/22/08
Re: What is ambiguous  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/24/08
Re: What is ambiguous  AGNUcius | 01/24/08
President Clinton said  Ole Man | 02/17/08
GPL3 doesn't scare all corporate people  Azrael29a | 01/24/08
None of have claimed that the GPLs scare users  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
Maybe "revision" is the wrong word here  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
Re: revision  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/24/08
4 out of 10  fireman949 | 01/22/08
Why replace the Linux servers  alaniane@... | 01/22/08
It's an issue when you have to link against GPL code  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
Should developers be expected to understand a copyright license?  AGNUcius | 01/24/08
What a load of horse waste  Robert Crocker | 01/22/08
EULA changes don't affect my ability to develop an application  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
The Purpose of the GNU GPL  AGNUcius | 01/24/08
Ed you've always been free to write your own licence  stevey_d | 01/22/08
Re: free to write your own  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/22/08
Why Not M$'s EULA?!?  swbobcat | 01/22/08
MS' EULA is not the same type of license as the GPLs  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
Well I have to plead ignorance of EPL and CPL  stevey_d | 01/22/08
I'm losing something  raul62 | 01/22/08
Linus Holds Copyrights  jeremy.huffman@... | 01/22/08
Linus actually is the best lead in something like this  Timpraetor | 01/22/08
The power of one person  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/22/08
Famous quote  John L. Ries | 01/22/08
I love reading quotes, here are a few of some of my favorites  Ole Man | 01/23/08
Silliness  Tim Patterson | 01/22/08
Not about Linux or code theft...  Timpraetor | 01/22/08
Misconception  Tim Patterson | 01/22/08
could you please help us  s_souche | 01/22/08
Sure  Tim Patterson | 01/22/08
Two problems there  s_souche | 01/22/08
Huh?  Tim Patterson | 01/22/08
GNU now defines "distribute"  NetArch. | 01/23/08
Not all agree with your summary  Timpraetor | 01/22/08
Well...  Tim Patterson | 01/22/08
Lawyers are good for one thing  Linux User 147560 | 01/22/08
This has to be the best hidden FUD I have seen  goxk@... | 01/22/08
You are obviously not a consultant or developer  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
Of course you mouth things  goxk@... | 01/24/08
Re: You are obviously not a consultant or developer  none none | 01/25/08
TiVo  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/22/08
Wrong Ed  Tim Patterson | 01/22/08
Overriding the intent?  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/22/08
We could argue all day about what the intent was  Ole Man | 01/22/08
Very Good Tim  goxk@... | 01/22/08
How true!  Ole Man | 01/22/08
Absolutely  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
trojjer  trojjer | 02/06/08
Progress or Profit  AGNUcius | 01/24/08
Make up your mind  zeke123 | 01/22/08
It's the kernel  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/22/08
Linus still controls the core  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
It's about the confusion that exists in the license  Ole Man | 01/22/08
GPL is not working fine  s_souche | 01/22/08
Great  Tim Patterson | 01/22/08
Just a pragmatical approach  s_souche | 01/22/08
It works for its intent  allthingscode | 01/22/08
exactly what I said  s_souche | 01/22/08
If only ...  Timpraetor | 01/22/08
There would be no need for this discussion  Ole Man | 01/22/08
FUD FUD and more FUD  kingttx | 01/22/08
Sorry to contradict you  s_souche | 01/22/08
Then don't redistribute GPLed code.  John L. Ries | 01/22/08
Intent vs. Letter - part of the problem.  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
Misunderstanding both intent and letter  AGNUcius | 01/24/08
Not true  John L. Ries | 01/25/08
How sad for you...... Oh woe is you!  Ole Man | 01/22/08
I hate to be this strong but you are a liar  goxk@... | 01/22/08
the previous line should read  goxk@... | 01/22/08
Come on  s_souche | 01/23/08
GPLed libraries are replicable  John L. Ries | 01/23/08
"replacible" was what I meant (NT)  John L. Ries | 01/23/08
You are still a liar  goxk@... | 01/23/08
I think it's both  Ole Man | 01/23/08
You are really starting to get on my nerves  s_souche | 01/24/08
On your nerves I am afraid I will continue  goxk@... | 01/24/08
No they are not ISV  s_souche | 01/24/08
Ah now we are getting into it  goxk@... | 01/24/08
An exemple  s_souche | 01/24/08
By the same logic  goxk@... | 01/24/08
Come on, take your meds and calm down  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
Now thats a good laugh Tim  goxk@... | 01/24/08
Could you please...  s_souche | 01/25/08
I hope this are enough licenses for you  goxk@... | 01/25/08
So you do agree  s_souche | 01/25/08
We agree on nothing  goxk@... | 01/25/08
BSB is OSI approved  s_souche | 01/26/08
The nature of secrets  Ole Man | 01/23/08
Bzzzzt!  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
You know not what you speak about  goxk@... | 01/24/08
Uhhh, Troll er, dude? . . .  JLHenry | 01/25/08
Re: GPL is not working fine  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/24/08
re-read the GPL please.....and comprehend  devlin_X | 01/24/08
Re: GPL is not working fine  none none | 01/24/08
RE: Software emancipation: An open letter to Linus Torvalds  bbaston@... | 01/22/08
Excellent points  Timpraetor | 01/22/08
4th GPLv = GPLv3 not 2  bbaston@... | 01/22/08
another volley in the war against freedom  scott1329 | 01/22/08
Well said!  Tim Patterson | 01/22/08
In what way has the GPLv2 effected your freedom?  balsover | 01/22/08
The purpose of GPLv3...  allthingscode | 01/22/08
Not limiting OS changes, just the TiVO code  Timpraetor | 01/22/08
And Tim thats all good  goxk@... | 01/22/08
Stallman is against plagiarizism  Ole Man | 01/22/08
Attention all software companies, shutdown your operations  Timpraetor | 01/22/08
.  Linux User 147560 | 01/22/08
Yep  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
No, it's a volley for programmer freedom and efficiency  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/22/08
This is the issue with mixed license restrictions  Timpraetor | 01/22/08
Tell That to Microsoft  swbobcat | 01/22/08
MS EULA != GPL  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
Another idiotic post Tim  goxk@... | 01/24/08
a piece of code for a project that happens to be under license X  Ole Man | 01/22/08
Not that straight forward  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
Stuff happens  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/24/08
How simple can you get?  Ole Man | 02/03/08
Forbidden by the GPL!  PhilippeV | 01/22/08
Interesting  rapson | 01/22/08
He also has another option  alaniane@... | 01/22/08
He can't call his license GPL x but he can license it how he wants...  devlin_X | 01/24/08
Much better idea  masilver | 01/22/08
If TiVO is not satisfied with GPL restrictions...  PhilippeV | 01/22/08
You'd rather they use Windows CE? Really?  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/22/08
It's THEIR freedom of choice of which license to abid by....  devlin_X | 01/24/08
What part was silly?  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/24/08
I concede, and was mistaken apparently  devlin_X | 01/25/08
So what's yours is mine and what's mine is mine  sboyce@... | 01/22/08
What's yours is still yours  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/22/08
Then What's M$'s is Mine Too Right?!?  swbobcat | 01/22/08
MS EULA != GPL  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
True  goxk@... | 01/24/08
If that's your position...  John L. Ries | 01/22/08
My position  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/22/08
"Unless they're the right kind of people."  John L. Ries | 01/22/08
Re: right kind of people  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/23/08
Respect it, or DIY  Sysadm1n | 01/23/08
Actually...  John L. Ries | 01/23/08
a less bitter version  Ole Man | 01/23/08
Nuh unh!  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
With the GPL everybody wins.  sagalout | 01/22/08
It's not the only way to win  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/22/08
The GNU GPL does NOT require distribution!  AGNUcius | 01/24/08
Try using your stupid argument at a toll booth  Ole Man | 01/22/08
You got their number  Ole Man | 01/22/08
RE: Software emancipation: An open letter to Linus Torvalds  hawkeyeaz1 | 01/22/08
Seems that many are misinterpreting Ed's article  Timpraetor | 01/22/08
If That Were the Case...  swbobcat | 01/22/08
RE: If that were the case.....  geekinbach | 01/22/08
Ed should be FIRED!!!!  hbashman@... | 01/22/08
You apparently didn't read the article  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
Missing the point  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/22/08
What point??????????  Ole Man | 01/22/08
The "real" point  Sysadm1n | 01/23/08
ED, Thank you!  kd5auq | 01/22/08
Ed Should be FIRED  swbobcat | 01/22/08
benevloent dictator  zeke123 | 01/22/08
Good Thinking -- NOT!!!!  swbobcat | 01/22/08
Use some common sense  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/22/08
No kidding Ed!!!  hbashman@... | 01/22/08
Life isn't real,and I'm not real either!  BALTHOR | 01/22/08
when asked specifically about that  s_souche | 01/22/08
Access to source code must ONLY be given to the binary recipient  AGNUcius | 01/24/08
under GPL  s_souche | 01/25/08
Profit is inversely related to Freedom (Freedom = 1/Profit)  AGNUcius | 01/25/08
RE: Software emancipation: An open letter to Linus Torvalds  Sysadm1n | 01/22/08
Corporate interests  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/22/08
Freeing Software: An open Letter to Bill Gates  swbobcat | 01/22/08
Re: Letter to Bill  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/22/08
Ed, the dullard!!  hbashman@... | 01/22/08
It Makes Far More Sense Than Your Letter to Linus  swbobcat | 01/22/08
Now that makes sense!  Ole Man | 01/22/08
Open Letter to Linus  geekinbach | 01/22/08
Utter nonesense! NT  Ole Man | 01/22/08
i couldn't agree more!  suhail.stk@... | 01/23/08
Are you out of your mind???  Azrael29a | 01/24/08
HPL link  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/24/08
You can't add more restrictions to GPL2  Azrael29a | 01/24/08
You missed a bit ...  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
You are the one who missed it  goxk@... | 01/24/08
RE: Software emancipation: An open letter to Linus Torvalds  Timpraetor | 01/24/08
RE: Software emancipation: An open letter to Linus Torvalds  Ed Burnette ZDNet Moderator | 01/24/08
The presidence has been set  Aussie_Troll | 12/04/08

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