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You're missing the point
"Suddenly, the GPL starts to make a bit more sense now."

I never said it didn't make sense, not did I ever say that people shouldn't protect their IP through whatever means they wish. Licenses are fine, and a developer can use whatever license she prefers. I only dispute the use of the term "free" in relation to GPL'd (or any other license) code.

"How is that encumbered?"

It's encumbered because it's covered by a license that says what I can and can't do. In a sense, the code itself may be seen as being unencumbered, but the users of the code are not "free". It's like saying "air is free!", then charging me for compressed air. Sure, I could buy my own compressor and compress my own air, but in either case the air isn't "free" to me. It doesn't do me any good that the air itself is free, if I have to "pay" to get it. And any license, regardless of its terms, is payment.

A common mistake made here is that any argument about open vs. closed software is about "F/OSS vs. Microsoft" ideology, or about "the people" vs. "big corporations". It's not a matter of ideology, it's a matter of terminology and the distortion of language. At least, it is to me. Perversion of language is a common means of tyranny. Ever read "1984"?

Carl Rapson
Posted by: rapson   Posted on: 10/19/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Under the new plan....  nucrash | 10/19/05
Microsoft simplifies code-sharing plan  Loverock Davidson | 10/19/05
Yeah, right......God bless Microsoft...  shawkins | 10/19/05
And why not?  Loverock Davidson | 10/19/05
They try  nucrash | 10/19/05
You are so right....  widge_z | 10/19/05
I know  Loverock Davidson | 10/19/05
You had my vote at Linusux..  Patrick Jones | 10/19/05
Oops..  Patrick Jones | 10/19/05
Its ok  Loverock Davidson | 10/19/05
I best get that trademarked then  Patrick Jones | 10/19/05
I guess you don't understand  widge_z | 10/19/05
Yes  Loverock Davidson | 10/19/05
more gimmicks from M$  Linux Geek | 10/19/05
MS doesn't care what yoiu think, your not a customer.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/19/05
So Microsoft can piss off anybody they want, no problem,  DonnieBoy | 10/19/05
You wouldn't come back...  Confused by religion | 10/19/05
Re: more gimmicks from M$  Scrat | 10/19/05
Banner day for all Americans...  Mike Cox | 10/19/05
I am starving Mike...  nucrash | 10/19/05
MS is learning ...  George Mitchell | 10/19/05
Your post contains so many...  ShadeTree | 10/19/05
I disagree..  Patrick Jones | 10/19/05
Sound analysis...but there's more...  techboy_z | 10/19/05
Go read the code sharing ...  ShadeTree | 10/20/05
Great, more encumbered source for No_Ax to whine about!  B.O.F.H. | 10/19/05
Probably not  NonZealot | 10/19/05
That's interesting..  Patrick Jones | 10/19/05
That's the point  rapson | 10/19/05
It is the fact that speech isn't completely free...  Patrick Jones | 10/19/05
That's fine  rapson | 10/19/05
Copyright Law puts restrictions in place, a license alows usage.  B.O.F.H. | 10/19/05
The restritions exist because someone ...  ShadeTree | 10/20/05
To Shadetree  Zinoron | 10/20/05
Clarification  Sabz5150 | 10/19/05
You're missing the point  rapson | 10/19/05
Nicely put Carl...  John Le'Brecage | 10/19/05
I agree  rapson | 10/19/05
One thing Carl  Jeff Spicoli | 10/19/05
All source code licenses deal with Copyrights.  B.O.F.H. | 10/19/05
Of course not!  Sabz5150 | 10/19/05
WOW- never thought I'd see the day!  CobraA1 | 10/19/05
Oh no, comparisons to Mozilla even in the slightest  Boot_Agnostic | 10/20/05
MS-PL  wolf_z | 10/20/05

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