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Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 22:19:25 -0400
Message-Id: <200005020219.WAA20440@envy.delorie.com>
From: DJ Delorie <dj AT delorie DOT com>
To: KendallB AT scitechsoft DOT com
CC: Cygwin AT sourceware DOT cygnus DOT com
In-reply-to: <200005011901172.SM00160@KENDALLB>
Subject: Re: Lack of Cygwin contributors? Was: How is textmode/binmode determined ...
References: <200005011535376 DOT SM00160 AT KENDALLB> <200005011901172 DOT SM00160 AT KENDALLB>


> > The additions are not proprietary.  They are covered by the GPL, just
> > like the rest of the compiler.  The GPL says *nothing* about making
> > changes available to the general public.
> 
> Interesting. That is definately a view of the GPL that I have never 
> seen before.

This is why RMS doesn't support the "open source" movement.  They
confuse the focus of free software, and people often get the wrong
impressions from it.  The free software movement is very focused, and
has been since it started.  The open source movement is an amorphous
blob of people trying to make it mean what would benefit their own
causes.

Reference http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html

Note that the four points refer to freedoms for the person with the
software ("the user"), not rights for people without the software.

Also note this quote:

 "You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them
  privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that
  they exist. If you do publish your changes, you should not be
  required to notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way."

[and further, "You may have paid money to get copies of GNU software..."]

> > No.  The GPL does not require us to give sources to just anyone.  It
> > only requires that we give sources to those who have the binaries, and
> > we do.
> 
> Hmmm. I need to research this some more.

Note that Cygnus uses option 3a, and not 3b or 3c, in our distribution
of GPL'd software.  That avoids the "anyone can ask for it" loophole.
3b opens a can of worms that should be avoided if at all possible,
although I've seen valid reasons for using it.

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