This guy has it all backwards. The BSD license is ahead of its time. When all software is free, and the thought that it should be proprietary becomes generally accepted as absurd, the BSDL will be the perfect solution for almost everyone, and the restrictions the GPL imposes will no longer be needed.
However, not all software is free, and many free software developers are concerned that their work will be exploited by companies, without receiving any benefits in return from them. So they choose the GPL, because it forces anyone who benefits by their work to give everyone those same benefits. These developers tend to write their software for others, in the hope that others will improve it for them. Other developers tend to write their software for themselves, and therefore don't care what others do with it, because they already have what they want. These developers choose the BSDL.
The argument that GPL developers are hypocrites is based on the assumption that all freedom is unchecked. Any democratic supporter will tell you that there is no such thing as unchecked freedom, and that freedom extends only so far as to benefit everyone. One is not free to take others' belongings from them. One is not free to make false, degrading statements about others. Freedom is not unchecked. Licence, the abuse of freedom, is unchecked. In this way, the GPL remains "free" while only allowing the things that benefit everyone. Think of it in this way: if an author writes his software under the BSDL, and a company is free to take it and sell improvements under a proprietary license (benefit from the author), then that author is no longer free to benefit from someone who benefited from him in the first place.
The use of the GPL and the BSDL is decided by individual authors and their needs. What everyone needs to do is respect their decisions, and end this long-standing flame war once and for all. -------- "I already have all the latest software."
"'Tis true, 'Tis true. Too often it is a sad world we live in."
I agree. It's better for everyone if they release hardware docs than if they give us buggy (binary-only!) drivers. Of course, it's all good if they give us the source to their drivers (Linux or Windows). -------- "I already have all the latest software."
That doesn't answer my question, you miserable FUDding AC!
Not everything to do with communism is bad. Did you know communists drink water? What's bad about communism is the fact that it's hippocritical. Communism talks of equality, but then it turns around and has an aristocracy anyway.
Just because you yell "communist", doesn't make something bad. -------- "I already have all the latest software."
Who's the Anonymous Coward here? And what's thievery? Licensing *my own* code is thievery somehow?
Your argument is baseless. Say something that actually has to do with what I said and I'll talk with you. Otherwise, I end this thread here. -------- "I already have all the latest software."
I want to be as much of a pain as I can to software hoarders, while making things easier for other free (ala RMS) developers like me. The GPL suits my needs. If you don't like it, shut up and don't use my code. -------- "I already have all the latest software."
I don't set it free because I don't want it to be free. I don't want to work for some company for free. I also want free software (ala RMS) to have an *advantage* over proprietary software. Public Domain does not suit this. -------- "I already have all the latest software."
Fine. It's not free. Are you happy? I'm still going to develop under the GPL, whether you like it or not. -------- "I already have all the latest software."
The only "restrictions" the GPL has are ones that ensure the freedom of software for others.
In a hostile world, there can be no such thing as unchecked freedom. This includes the world of software. -------- "I already have all the latest software."
Holy crap! You're right! Of course, a lot of people who install Linux will know (or will have been told) better.
Anyway, it could be useful for some. I installed Linux on my friend's computer (RedHat 6), but he's a hardcore gamer and Linux just wasn't right for him. He removed everything himself, but he couldn't pull LILO. I told him how, but this page would have helped him (somewhat) had I just picked up and left.
As a side note, did you notice the fact that Microsoft basically tells you that their products aren't good enough to actually get something done? They tell you to use the Linux fdisk command, possibly because theirs isn't good enough!
I nominate this article for the "It's Funny. Laugh." section article-of-the-year award. -------- "I already have all the latest software."
Have you ever considered that the engine and the maps are totally separate entities? They're not even made by the same people!
And you're an idiot if you think Carmack is not for us. Just because he released *his* work under the GPL does not make him able to speak for the rest of the id guys. -------- "I already have all the latest software."
But you're not changing the GPL, just the terms of your license.
Your actual software license is not the text of the GPL, but:
Copyright (C)
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
This point is moot, however, because the quake map and pseudocode compiler (the Quake engine) and the data it works on (the precompiled quake-c and the maps) are separate entities.
A Quote from the GPL:
These requirements apply to the modified work as a whole. If identifiable sections of that work are not derived from the Program, and can be reasonably considered independent and separate works in themselves, then this License, and its terms, do not apply to those sections when you distribute them as separate works. But when you distribute the same sections as part of a whole which is a work based on the Program, the distribution of the whole must be on the terms of this License, whose permissions for other licensees extend to the entire whole, and thus to each and every part regardless of who wrote it.
Thus, it is not the intent of this section to claim rights or contest your rights to work written entirely by you; rather, the intent is to exercise the right to control the distribution of derivative or collective works based on the Program.
In addition, mere aggregation of another work not based on the Program with the Program (or with a work based on the Program) on a volume of a storage or distribution medium does not bring the other work under the scope of this License.
-------- "I already have all the latest software."
Well, with the current lack of IP addresses, you can't do that. Push the ISPs providing this to support IPv6.
The next ISP in my town that provides IPv6 (the whole 64 bits) for the about same price as I get IPv4 will immediately get my business... -------- "I already have all the latest software."
The spammers should pay the users also
on
Suing the Spammers
·
· Score: 1
No, AOL should keep their money, and the spammers should have to give the recipients money as well (not to mention every relay provider they used to bounce their mail from). -------- "I already have all the latest software."
It's not "ID Software" or "Id Software" or "I.D. Software". It's: "id Software" (small `i', small `d', capital `S')
Also, "id" is not pronounced `eye dee', it's pronounced "id" (one syllable, short i sound).
I heard it on a old interview with the "id guys" themselves, so anyone who wants to argue this should look up the facts first, then keep sending their flames to/dev/full until it works. -------- "I already have all the latest software."
Slashdot Mirror
This guy has it all backwards. The BSD license is ahead of its time. When all software is free, and the thought that it should be proprietary becomes generally accepted as absurd, the BSDL will be the perfect solution for almost everyone, and the restrictions the GPL imposes will no longer be needed.
However, not all software is free, and many free software developers are concerned that their work will be exploited by companies, without receiving any benefits in return from them. So they choose the GPL, because it forces anyone who benefits by their work to give everyone those same benefits. These developers tend to write their software for others, in the hope that others will improve it for them. Other developers tend to write their software for themselves, and therefore don't care what others do with it, because they already have what they want. These developers choose the BSDL.
The argument that GPL developers are hypocrites is based on the assumption that all freedom is unchecked. Any democratic supporter will tell you that there is no such thing as unchecked freedom, and that freedom extends only so far as to benefit everyone. One is not free to take others' belongings from them. One is not free to make false, degrading statements about others. Freedom is not unchecked. Licence, the abuse of freedom, is unchecked. In this way, the GPL remains "free" while only allowing the things that benefit everyone. Think of it in this way: if an author writes his software under the BSDL, and a company is free to take it and sell improvements under a proprietary license (benefit from the author), then that author is no longer free to benefit from someone who benefited from him in the first place.
The use of the GPL and the BSDL is decided by individual authors and their needs. What everyone needs to do is respect their decisions, and end this long-standing flame war once and for all.
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
No kidding! That means no Win00 or Office00! This old Linux user (me) is going to experience *such* a change by this boycott!
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
"'Tis true, 'Tis true. Too often it is a sad world we live in."
I agree. It's better for everyone if they release hardware docs than if they give us buggy (binary-only!) drivers. Of course, it's all good if they give us the source to their drivers (Linux or Windows).
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
That doesn't answer my question, you miserable FUDding AC!
Not everything to do with communism is bad. Did you know communists drink water? What's bad about communism is the fact that it's hippocritical. Communism talks of equality, but then it turns around and has an aristocracy anyway.
Just because you yell "communist", doesn't make something bad.
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
Read the posts before you moderate. This was quite on-topic indeed.
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
Who's the Anonymous Coward here? And what's thievery? Licensing *my own* code is thievery somehow?
Your argument is baseless. Say something that actually has to do with what I said and I'll talk with you. Otherwise, I end this thread here.
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
What do you think would be wrong with destroying IP rights?
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
I'm the Zealot down the hall, and I'd be quite annoyed if someone pulled Linux off my workstation while "upgrading" it for me (how nice) to Win*.
My point: I don't know.
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
At least the previous poster could match up his tags...
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
Just knocking some sense into you.
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
I want to be as much of a pain as I can to software hoarders, while making things easier for other free (ala RMS) developers like me. The GPL suits my needs. If you don't like it, shut up and don't use my code.
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
I don't set it free because I don't want it to be free. I don't want to work for some company for free. I also want free software (ala RMS) to have an *advantage* over proprietary software. Public Domain does not suit this.
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
Fine. It's not free. Are you happy? I'm still going to develop under the GPL, whether you like it or not.
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
Do you understand the meaning of "context"?
The only "restrictions" the GPL has are ones that ensure the freedom of software for others.
In a hostile world, there can be no such thing as unchecked freedom. This includes the world of software.
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
But considering this article is about the GPL, a reasonable and logical person would assume "free software" takes the RMS definition.
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
Holy crap! You're right! Of course, a lot of people who install Linux will know (or will have been told) better.
Anyway, it could be useful for some. I installed Linux on my friend's computer (RedHat 6), but he's a hardcore gamer and Linux just wasn't right for him. He removed everything himself, but he couldn't pull LILO. I told him how, but this page would have helped him (somewhat) had I just picked up and left.
As a side note, did you notice the fact that Microsoft basically tells you that their products aren't good enough to actually get something done? They tell you to use the Linux fdisk command, possibly because theirs isn't good enough!
I nominate this article for the "It's Funny. Laugh." section article-of-the-year award.
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
Have you ever considered that the engine and the maps are totally separate entities? They're not even made by the same people!
And you're an idiot if you think Carmack is not for us. Just because he released *his* work under the GPL does not make him able to speak for the rest of the id guys.
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
Your actual software license is not the text of the GPL, but:
This point is moot, however, because the quake map and pseudocode compiler (the Quake engine) and the data it works on (the precompiled quake-c and the maps) are separate entities.
A Quote from the GPL:
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
As soon as power-line net access becomes available, it will be considered current, and therefore will not be faster than itself.
Remember:
(1 > 1) == (1==0)
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
This guy was being sarcastic. Both things he said are believable. You took him seriously.
;)
Bad dog!
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
Well, with the current lack of IP addresses, you can't do that. Push the ISPs providing this to support IPv6.
The next ISP in my town that provides IPv6 (the whole 64 bits) for the about same price as I get IPv4 will immediately get my business...
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
No, AOL should keep their money, and the spammers should have to give the recipients money as well (not to mention every relay provider they used to bounce their mail from).
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
Boy, I'm an idiot. It's hard to be a squatter when you had the domain before anybody else. Sorry about that Chris!
$ whois slashdot.org
Registrant:
Rob Malda (SLASHDOT2-DOM)
116 E 18th St
Holland, MI 49423
Domain Name: SLASHDOT.ORG
Administrative Contact:
Malda, Rob (RM7054) malda@SLASHDOT.ORG
616-994-0441
Technical Contact, Zone Contact:
DNS Administrator (DA15693-OR) dnsadmin@ANDOVER.NET
978-635-5300
Fax- 978-635-5326
Billing Contact:
Malda, Rob (RM7054) malda@SLASHDOT.ORG
616-994-0441
Record last updated on 31-Aug-1999.
Record created on 05-Oct-1997.
Database last updated on 8-Dec-1999 15:24:38 EST.
Domain servers in listed order:
NS1.ANDOVER.NET 209.207.224.196
NS2.ANDOVER.NET 209.207.224.197
NS3.ANDOVER.NET 209.192.217.104
$ whois slashdot.com
Registrant:
Chris Richardson (SLASHDOT-DOM)
345 South Mathilda Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
US
Domain Name: SLASHDOT.COM
Administrative Contact, Technical Contact, Zone Contact:
Richardson, Chris (CR1294) chris@SLASHDOT.COM
+1 408 733 3326
Billing Contact:
Richardson, Chris (CR1294) chris@SLASHDOT.COM
+1 408 733 3326
Record last updated on 15-Nov-1999.
Record created on 17-Nov-1996.
Database last updated on 8-Dec-1999 15:24:38 EST.
Domain servers in listed order:
NS.2WIRE.COM 209.247.193.13
NS4.2WIRE.COM 166.90.140.53
NS3.2WIRE.COM 209.247.193.42
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
It's not "ID Software" or "Id Software" or "I.D. Software". It's:
/dev/full until it works.
"id Software"
(small `i', small `d', capital `S')
Also, "id" is not pronounced `eye dee', it's pronounced "id" (one syllable, short i sound).
I heard it on a old interview with the "id guys" themselves, so anyone who wants to argue this should look up the facts first, then keep sending their flames to
--------
"I already have all the latest software."
Linux 2.[123] have a SAK (SysRq-k)
--------
"I already have all the latest software."