Messages in this thread | | | Date | Mon, 13 Jul 1998 13:52:05 +0200 (GMT) | From | Thomas Gschwind <> | Subject | Re: Linus Speaks About KDE-Bashing |
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On Sun, 12 Jul 1998 linker@nightshade.ml.org wrote:
> Microsoft makes a copy of FreeWord called M$freeword. Then they port it > to windows. Then they start adding functions like read_M$_worddoc(), > decrypt_propritary_M$_fileformats(), play_well_with_other_M$apps(), > descease_random_crash_freq(), enhance_FW_GUI() to their standard windows > libs. These functions are designed to 'enhance' FreeWord, they are closed > source and propritary. They are only distributed with the $199 Win '99 > upgrade. They may not be copied or modified. > > Then they sell copies of FreeWord for $100, and on the CD they include > their modified sources. Their modifications mostly consist of calls to > those above functions. Although it is under the GPL, it is useless without > the '99 upgrade. All of their enhancements are propritary, and the only > advantage that the GPL had here over a BSD licence is that it made it a > bit tougher. The GPL is supposted to prevent embrace and extend. If we > allow 'system libs' then this can be circumvented. I think we should decide, whether the non-GPL product linked to the GPL product is useful on its own (or within another product) or not. QT is useful in other products.
By the way: Would it be legal to distribute a patch that changes my Gimp installation so that it can be used in combination with QT? In this case the user qould modify the GPL code himself...
Thomas -- Thomas Gschwind Email: tom@infosys.tuwien.ac.at Distributed Systems Group Tel: +43(1)58801x4469 A-1040, Argentinierstrasse 8 Fax: +43(1)5058453
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