Mail Archives: djgpp/2000/11/29/07:23:42
On Tue, 28 Nov 2000, Marp wrote:
> > > > However, as long as Andris doesn't do that, no one can upload his
> > > > work.
> > >
> > > Why not?
> >
> > Because it wouldn't be nice, that's why.
>
> Next logical question: How is it "not nice"? Eli's post suggested to me that
> if someone were to do so, they would somehow be violating the GPL license
> (which RHIDE uses for it's terms) or violating some rule for distributing
> files on simtel.
What I wrote had nothing to do with licensing (although, if someone
distributes your code without your consent, you might as well sue
them). What I wrote meant simply this: You cannot take someone else's
work and do whatever you please with it, without that person's say-so.
Andris works on DJGPP for a long time, during which he released quite
a few packages (GCC is one of them). So I assume he has his reasons
for not uploading RHIDE beta to SimTel.NET, especially given the fact
that this particular issue has come up several times in the past here.
I think we should respect Andris's opinion, since that's his work we
are talking about.
> To help you better understand where I'm coming from, I'll tell you why I
> think there's nothing "not nice" about it. Andris received the RHIDE
> distribution, modified it, and then authorized it's redistribution (by
> redistributing it himself). In order for him to do that without breaching
> the license, he must allow the same freedom in redistribution of his copy as
> was allowed when he received his copy. So by making his modified copy
> available, he has effectively given us permission to redistribute it (on
> simtel or wherever).
Let's not confuse the law with decency. GPL is a legal document, but
behaving according to the letter of law, and it alone, makes the
society not a very nice place, indeed. For example, the law doesn't
require us to be polite, or even say hello to our neighbours, but we
still do.
Likewise, you don't take someone's code and put it on SimTel unless
that person agrees. It might not be illegal, but it's extremely
impolite, to say the least.
> My point is this. Asking him if it's okay would be asking him a question
> that he has, in effect, already answered.
Yes: he answered it in the _negative_. It's not that Andris
disappeared from the horizon, or defaulted on this issue. Since he
knows very well what is involved in getting a package uploaded to
SimTel, but still didn't do it for RHIDE, he in effect explicitly told
us NOT to do that just yet. (And the reasons for that are explained in
his message posted today.)
So I think we shouldn't.
> It would also help if Eli would answer the question since it was
> directed at him, but I don't think he's even read it yet.
I need to sleep sometimes, amazingly enough...
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