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iPhone SDK and Free Software Don't Match
kookjr writes "Are you planning to develop software for the iPhone? If you want to develop Free Software, Linux.com (Shares corp overlord w/ Slashdot) has a good review of the conflicts between Apple's Registered iPhone Developer Agreement and licenses like the GPL. This is important for people who may not read all the agreements they click Agree to."
With Apple's history of preventing anyone from building hardware/software without paying licensing fees, is this at all surprising? They loosened the grip a little bit in the early 90's, but clinched right up once they started to lose a bit more of the market share. Now they have shown that their locked down system will keep (improve) their share. Why would they change? Apple and Microsoft really are quite similar in this, the main difference being that Apple actually makes good, innovative products on platforms for which only they can build (sell) the hardware. Apple keeping a tight reign on licensing is just SOP.
And a Kleenex is a type of facial tissue, but many people use it to refer to all types of facial tissue. Similarly, OSS is a type of free software, just as free ware is a type of free software. 2 categories of the same group.