Re: LYNX-DEV OS/2 blowoff

[Foteos Macrides]

Klaus Weide <address@hidden> wrote:
>On Thu, 1 May 1997, Foteos Macrides wrote:
>
>> Wayne Buttles <address@hidden> wrote:
>> >I believe I have been blown off a second time by that OS/2 Lynx guy.
>> >It doesn't appear that he is willing to release the source to Lynx2, but I
>> >don't know that for sure since he never replies to my emails.
>> >
>> >I am rather dissapointed.
>> 
>>      Note that those mods indeed are encompassed by the GNU GPL,
>> so we have our first "test case" for what is the "consequence" of
>> people or organizations violating it.  If it's left as "nothing"
>> that's not good, but that's life...   ;( ;(
>
>Is there anybody at UKANS who would care?
>Bela wrote that SCO got "appropriate permission from the University of
>Kansas".  Just a letter from there might have some effect.
>
>If this is really a case of what the GPL is trying to prevent (not sure
>we can conclude that at this point), then it should be of interest to
>more people than just lynx-dev:  FSF, every linux contributor, ...

        It most certainly is violating one of the key objectives of
the GNU GPL and FSF's founding principles.  The intent is not to
to prevent anyone from making money indirectly through use of freeware
(as many ISPs, and commercial organizations which distribute freeware
on CDROMs are doing, for example), but to keep the sources open, and
to ensure that any enhancments will remain available in source from to
the overall user community.   Distributing binaries -- but not making
the sources available on one's own initiative or on request, and for
no more than a *modest* cost of media and distribution -- is a flagrant
violation of what the GNU GPL and FSF are all about!

                                Fote

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 Foteos Macrides            Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research
 address@hidden         222 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury, MA 01545
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