Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!watmath!iuvax!purdue!ames!uhccux!lee
From: lee@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu (Greg Lee)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.misc
Subject: Re: Copylefting
Message-ID: <4428@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu>
Date: 26 Jul 89 11:25:05 GMT
References: <358@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU>
Organization: University of Hawaii
Lines: 27

From article <358@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU>, by henry@garp.mit.edu (Henry Mensch):
" ->Stallman all the best in his crusade, but since I have my hand in the
" ->public till, I don't think it would be proper for me to use a copyleft.
" 
" why not?

The University of Hawaii is a state university.  A purpose of the state
in supporting the university is to benefit commerce and industry in
Hawaii.  Copylefted code is effectively unavailable to commercial
enterprise, and so if an employee of the university employs a
copyleft, he acts contrary to this purpose.

" why can't something done with public funds benefit *everyone*?

It can.  Software placed in the public domain does (if it's of
use).

" do not profit-making companies contribute to said public till?

Indeed they do.  All the more reason to make the work of public
employees available to them.  I'm beginning to wonder whether
you read what I wrote.

"  why the artificial distinction? 

Between what?
			Greg, lee@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu