The GPL gives you exactly that right. The only thing stopping you would be a contract which strictly prohibits it, and I addressed that. This is why you'd lose your job.
No, I'm sorry, you are wrong. The modified copy of the GPLd software is not yours to give away, you don't own it, the company you work for owns it, and only they may decide to distribute it. You are their employee, you have no control whatsoever over the GPLd softwar, it is not "yours" to give away.
If I give you a copy of a program under GPL, you have the right to distribute it.
Nothing in the GPL allows an employee to take an internally modified version of GPLd software (modified for proprietary purposes perhaps) and distribute it outside the company (or in any other way) without permission of that person's employer. That's theft (trade secret, no less), industrial espionage, and just plain UNETHICAL.
Just because it's GPLd does not mean it's just out there for anyone to do what they want with it. Now, if that company does decide to distribute this GPLd item outside the company for others to use, then of course it goes with it's source and all the other things spelled out in the GPL.
I can assure you that if you work for the government and you start passing around internal software that contains GPL or any of the other "open source" licenses, you will find yourself in jail. You will never work for the government againe. You will lose your security clearence.
I never said anything about free or that I wasn't willing to invest time in it. All I said is that the solutions you and others have provided have told me to use FTP by stripping code out of another application and hence creating the potential for issues.
No, I never said strip code out of an existing application. FTP is not an application, it's a protocol. Just use the parts of the FTP protocol that you need. Write your installer in C++ or some easier to bite language such as VB v.6 (gasp) or Borland's C-Builder, or for web based, Perl or PHP... There are many options. No one said grab an FTP application and butcher it up; that's asking for problems. I'm just saying that working with the basic FTP functionality in some language (hell, make the damn thing run off of your server in a browser...) as mentioned above represents very little work. BUT, should you want to purchase a full featured installer package, your price range for Open Source packages should get you what you want anyway.
So basically you're saying that you want it to do everything you need, you don't want to put any work into it, and you want it for free? Jesus, that's not too much to ask for! God forbid you *spend* time or money on an installer...
You could have managed to rough it out in the time it took to respond to all the posts in this thread that you have. The point is, it's a MINOR issue. Period.
Yes, but any of those 'internal' guys can take the code and release it to the public on his website, completely legally.
Not if he or she wished to keep their security clearence and not be tossed in jail for mishandling of classified or government material. But if you have the opertunity, go ahead and give it a try. The result is what some call "thinning of the heard".
If you use AIM, the objection to using the AIM client is silly. Sure, for the most part, AOL blows. But if you are going to use part of their functionality (AIM), you've already had a bit of the poison apple. Just use the damn AIM client or lose AIM completely.
What I want is to have my users download a minimal executable which knows where to download the full install from and have the capability to stop/resume in the event of an interrupt.
No, I think *you* are missing the point. Write your minimalist app, use FTP functionality. FTP isn't some huge monolithic think you plug into your app, just provide the minimalist functionality you need. No big deal...
Basically, Slashdotters (or 20-somethings) have *always* recieved everything for free, and can't understand why they should actually pay for anything. Yet at the same time they wish to be paid for *their* work. It's just classic in a way, even 20 years ago when I went to school, kids felt this way. But they grew up to understand that we don't live in a socialist economy and everyone has a right to dictate the use of their IP.
Most, if not all, the technical advance in auto manufacturing has to do with government emissions regulations. People asked the government to demand better air quality and emissions from cars. This is the result. As always, you can't have it both ways (cheap easy to work on car vs. car that get's good mileage and has low emissions).
In the real world, good-quality software comes with no strings attached.
No, this is not so. It is possible to get good-quality software with no strings attached, but there is nothing that prevents a group from offering good-quality software with reasonable strings attached (like for example Xfree86). Keep in mind also, that Linux (as all GPLd and LGPLd software) most definatly comes with strings attached.
First, I guess my post was designed for "flamebait" as it does not subscribe to the/. mantra of "corporate is evil".
But, my point is that nasty corporate radio (and they are) like ClearChannel would not exist if there where not people that listen to that tripe. It is not for me to tell others what garbage they should listen to.
I'm all over as far as music. At one time, I was punk (I got the tattoos to prove it, shut up). Now I'm middle of the road (getting 40+ does something to the mind). But I do like (puke if you must) classic rock and (puke again) the 3 minute pop song. Just me. ClearChannel fills an area where many many people fall. Like I say to people that don't like porn, don't like it? Don't view it. But don't dis people who do.
Go to CompUSA, buy a *250 gb* drive for ~$200, and make your own damn free mail server.
Interesting point. I'm on DSL. I have my own IP (although it's not required, there are plenty of free DNS sites), I have my own email server (qMail on RH9), honestly in 15 years, I've NEVER had a free email account.
ClearChannel stations have the most obnoxious radio shows,commercials, jockeys and play the narrowest selection of music.
Funny thing, they seem to play what people listen to. Imagen that? A company that does market research and delivers what 99% of their customers want? How dare they. Where is the shitty inde-rock that only a few listen to? OMG!
Google is just a company started by a few geeks that made it big because they give an excellent service and that's it.
You, Sir, are on drugs. Google is a huge Cult of Personality based company that will soon be publically traded. It is no different than any other company: Someone with an idea started it, and figured out how to make HUGE GOBS OF MONEY. Google is not a religion, a form of tantric sex, it's a company in business to make money. PLEASE STOP MASTURBATING ABOUT IT.
Where is all the media hype about this privacy issue?
What do you expect, "outrage"? Are you an activist in search of an issue? What exactly bothers you that Amazon would like to track where you go and then market things to you? Don't like it? Don't use it. What's next? Amazon has law passed to PLACE CHIP IN YOUR HEAD! Please! Get a life.
Mod parent to 5000. This is the best thing that coulkd have happend. The money people may actually start looking at SCO / IBM / RedHat with a new idea.
The chances of BatStar seeing a dime are, well, slim as a thin dime. SCO lives in another reality, SCO will simply deny it's in violation, and stall any lawsuits until they fold. Darl and his buds will, by that time be on whatever planet their Mormon God has given them, or getting jiggy with Jeffrey Skilling in some resort jail.
But if you "agreed" with full knowledge that such an agreement was not enforceable, but with intent to honor other enforceable terms of the "contract," then I'd say there's no ethical violation
If you agreed knowing full well you didn't intend on upholding your end of the deal, you are a lier, your ethics are questionable, and I feel lucky I don't have to associate with you beyond/.!
Yup, yes, yes, yes. You know the old cliche, you don't like it, don't watch / listen / smoke...
But since someone's going to say something like this, here goes...
So many [insert knee-jerk group here] act like everyone should be on some crusade to stop [insert vice here]. Just because they aren't into [insert vice here] means nobody else should be.
So you're saying just because YOU don't shoot up heroin doesn't mean I shouldn't?
Slashdot Mirror
No, I'm sorry, you are wrong. The modified copy of the GPLd software is not yours to give away, you don't own it, the company you work for owns it, and only they may decide to distribute it. You are their employee, you have no control whatsoever over the GPLd softwar, it is not "yours" to give away.
Nothing in the GPL allows an employee to take an internally modified version of GPLd software (modified for proprietary purposes perhaps) and distribute it outside the company (or in any other way) without permission of that person's employer. That's theft (trade secret, no less), industrial espionage, and just plain UNETHICAL.
Just because it's GPLd does not mean it's just out there for anyone to do what they want with it. Now, if that company does decide to distribute this GPLd item outside the company for others to use, then of course it goes with it's source and all the other things spelled out in the GPL.
I can assure you that if you work for the government and you start passing around internal software that contains GPL or any of the other "open source" licenses, you will find yourself in jail. You will never work for the government againe. You will lose your security clearence.
No, I never said strip code out of an existing application. FTP is not an application, it's a protocol. Just use the parts of the FTP protocol that you need. Write your installer in C++ or some easier to bite language such as VB v.6 (gasp) or Borland's C-Builder, or for web based, Perl or PHP... There are many options. No one said grab an FTP application and butcher it up; that's asking for problems. I'm just saying that working with the basic FTP functionality in some language (hell, make the damn thing run off of your server in a browser...) as mentioned above represents very little work. BUT, should you want to purchase a full featured installer package, your price range for Open Source packages should get you what you want anyway.
So basically you're saying that you want it to do everything you need, you don't want to put any work into it, and you want it for free? Jesus, that's not too much to ask for! God forbid you *spend* time or money on an installer...
You could have managed to rough it out in the time it took to respond to all the posts in this thread that you have. The point is, it's a MINOR issue. Period.
Not if he or she wished to keep their security clearence and not be tossed in jail for mishandling of classified or government material. But if you have the opertunity, go ahead and give it a try. The result is what some call "thinning of the heard".
If you use AIM, the objection to using the AIM client is silly. Sure, for the most part, AOL blows. But if you are going to use part of their functionality (AIM), you've already had a bit of the poison apple. Just use the damn AIM client or lose AIM completely.
No, I think *you* are missing the point. Write your minimalist app, use FTP functionality. FTP isn't some huge monolithic think you plug into your app, just provide the minimalist functionality you need. No big deal...
Basically, Slashdotters (or 20-somethings) have *always* recieved everything for free, and can't understand why they should actually pay for anything. Yet at the same time they wish to be paid for *their* work. It's just classic in a way, even 20 years ago when I went to school, kids felt this way. But they grew up to understand that we don't live in a socialist economy and everyone has a right to dictate the use of their IP.
This was played out to it's sad sad end yesterday.
Most, if not all, the technical advance in auto manufacturing has to do with government emissions regulations. People asked the government to demand better air quality and emissions from cars. This is the result. As always, you can't have it both ways (cheap easy to work on car vs. car that get's good mileage and has low emissions).
No, this is not so. It is possible to get good-quality software with no strings attached, but there is nothing that prevents a group from offering good-quality software with reasonable strings attached (like for example Xfree86). Keep in mind also, that Linux (as all GPLd and LGPLd software) most definatly comes with strings attached.
Yes, the suit looks something like that one the Tron guy had on in the story yesterday.... Great for the picking of the chicks....
But, my point is that nasty corporate radio (and they are) like ClearChannel would not exist if there where not people that listen to that tripe. It is not for me to tell others what garbage they should listen to.
I'm all over as far as music. At one time, I was punk (I got the tattoos to prove it, shut up). Now I'm middle of the road (getting 40+ does something to the mind). But I do like (puke if you must) classic rock and (puke again) the 3 minute pop song. Just me. ClearChannel fills an area where many many people fall. Like I say to people that don't like porn, don't like it? Don't view it. But don't dis people who do.
Interesting point. I'm on DSL. I have my own IP (although it's not required, there are plenty of free DNS sites), I have my own email server (qMail on RH9), honestly in 15 years, I've NEVER had a free email account.
Funny thing, they seem to play what people listen to. Imagen that? A company that does market research and delivers what 99% of their customers want? How dare they. Where is the shitty inde-rock that only a few listen to? OMG!
You, Sir, are on drugs. Google is a huge Cult of Personality based company that will soon be publically traded. It is no different than any other company: Someone with an idea started it, and figured out how to make HUGE GOBS OF MONEY. Google is not a religion, a form of tantric sex, it's a company in business to make money. PLEASE STOP MASTURBATING ABOUT IT.
What do you expect, "outrage"? Are you an activist in search of an issue? What exactly bothers you that Amazon would like to track where you go and then market things to you? Don't like it? Don't use it. What's next? Amazon has law passed to PLACE CHIP IN YOUR HEAD! Please! Get a life.
- Are
you making fun of me?Mod parent to 5000. This is the best thing that coulkd have happend. The money people may actually start looking at SCO / IBM / RedHat with a new idea.
THAT is funny!
The chances of BatStar seeing a dime are, well, slim as a thin dime. SCO lives in another reality, SCO will simply deny it's in violation, and stall any lawsuits until they fold. Darl and his buds will, by that time be on whatever planet their Mormon God has given them, or getting jiggy with Jeffrey Skilling in some resort jail.
If you agreed knowing full well you didn't intend on upholding your end of the deal, you are a lier, your ethics are questionable, and I feel lucky I don't have to associate with you beyond /.!
But since someone's going to say something like this, here goes...
So many [insert knee-jerk group here] act like everyone should be on some crusade to stop [insert vice here]. Just because they aren't into [insert vice here] means nobody else should be.
So you're saying just because YOU don't shoot up heroin doesn't mean I shouldn't?
And then...
At no time are they talking about any end-user contract.
Yes, they are talking about the end-user contract. It is the end-user contract that specifies that you are not to crack the file.