Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!sun-barr!texsun!pollux!ti-csl!m2!holland From: holland@m2.csc.ti.com (Fred Hollander) Newsgroups: gnu.gcc Subject: Re: (none) Message-ID: <81237@ti-csl.csc.ti.com> Date: 16 Jun 89 14:46:12 GMT References: <8906151750.AA00320@sugar-bombs.ai.mit.edu> Sender: news@ti-csl.csc.ti.com Reply-To: holland@m2.UUCP (Fred Hollander) Distribution: gnu Organization: TI Computer Science Center, Dallas Lines: 55 In article <8906151750.AA00320@sugar-bombs.ai.mit.edu> rms@AI.MIT.EDU writes: > > I have just read them both. I must have missed the *Apple* clause that > takes back the right of *some* people to participate in the GNU project > by decree of RMS! > >If "participate" means use GNU software under the terms of the GPL, >then this is an inaccurate description of our actions. None of the >rights we are fighting to establish can be denied by us to anyone, not >even Apple employees, much as they deserve it. > >If "participate" means have the endorsement or cooperation of me or >the FSF, that is another matter. The GPL doesn't say that we have to >work on someone's favorite idea, just as it doesn't say that you have to >work on it. We are free in this just as you are. What if some postmaster told you that you could no longer send or receive mail because he didn't think he should "cooperate" with FSF. I think the analogy is very close. He has as much right to deny you access to US mail as you have to deny anyone access to Internet. And don't tell me that they can use the Internet, just not gnu.gcc, because the news that was posted was appropriately placed. That is the issue! Not "look and feel" as you so conveniently choose as your single issue to discuss. >The issue we have been discussing is that of user-interface copyright, >the so-called "look and feel". >... >All the arguments and positions I have posted on info-gcc recently are >about this topic. >... >As long as I stick to one and only one topic, there is a simple rule >for which one I am discussing. I have not discussed the "look and feel" issue because that is NOT the issue. You are upset about Apple's suit and thus deny Apple the right to speak on this forum. I am not defending Apple's "look and feel" issue, only their right to speak on this net and appropriately in this newsgroup. Likewise, I would speak against anyone who would deny you the right to speak your views. Don't take the attitude that the end justifies the means; that you don't care about Apple's rights becuase they're "aggressors" by suing others for "look and feel" infringements. You and many others are certainly not interested in Berry's news but, there may be some that are. They have a right to receive his news. If you're concerned about the majority interest and saving net bandwidth, then I'd say an additional hundred or so (I haven't counted) articles in response to Berry's single posting are far worse. Fred Hollander Computer Science Center Texas Instruments, Inc. hollander@ti.com The above statements are my own and not representative of Texas Instruments.