GPL getting tougher on patent deals

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Ristrictive? Compared to commercial software?

How exactly is the GPL getting more restrictive to your rights? The software that is released under the GPL is COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL just like the commercial software that your beloved Microsoft produces is. The difference is that unlike Microsoft's software, GPL software lets people make changes and freely redistribute software (something that you CAN NOT DO with commercial software) with the restrictions being that you respect the terms of the license. You are gaining freedom in exchange for obligations to make sure that the code remains free, as the PERSON WHO ACTUALLY WROTE THE CODE wants. What you seem to fail to understand is that most open source software is written by people who are doing the work for nothing and who don't want their work to be taken by some big company and turned into proprietary junk. If you don't want to bother following the rules of the GPL, why don't you go to Microsoft and ask them to use their code instead? If you write them a big enough cheque, they will let you use their code.

Posted by: bspelcha@...   Posted on: 03/28/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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