Date:	Wed, 26 Jun 2002 13:59:21 -0400
Message-Id:	<200206261759.g5QHxLY13802@envy.delorie.com>
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From:	DJ Delorie <dj AT delorie DOT com>
To:	djgpp AT delorie DOT com
In-reply-to:	<afctgd$723$1@pan.oamk.fi> (message from Ville Muikkula on Wed,
	26 Jun 2002 17:26:37 +0000 (UTC))
Subject:	Re: Is PMODE/DJ Free Software?
References:	<afctgd$723$1 AT pan DOT oamk DOT fi>
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Since PMODE does nothing more than provide standard DPMI 0.9 services,
and can easily be replaced with *any* other DPMI server with standard
djgpp tools, IMHO it qualifies as "part of the operating system".

Also IMHO, the fact that PMODE.EXE and the other EXE exist in the same
file (when used that way) does not change the fact that they're mere
aggregates (like as in a zip file or cd-rom).  Tools exist to separate
the two, and the main exe runs fine without PMODE (assuming any other
standard dpmi server is available, like windows or cwsdpmi).  In fact,
the embedded pmode.exe is ignored on most OSs as they already provide
DPMI sevices, which seems to me to be a key factor in determining that
it's a mere aggregate.

But I am neither a lawyer nor the author of either pmode or the FSF
programs, so this is just my opinion.

> - One is encouraged to email the authors if PMODE/DJ is used in for
> profit productions.

This is irrelevent, as it isn't a requirement, but only a suggestion.

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