Path: utzoo!yunexus!oz From: oz@yunexus.UUCP (Ozan Yigit) Newsgroups: gnu.misc.discuss Subject: Re: PD (was Why I do not...) Message-ID: <4496@yunexus.UUCP> Date: 20 Oct 89 15:50:48 GMT Article-I.D.: yunexus.4496 References: <8910160520.AA01740@sugar-bombs.ai.mit.edu> <4426@yunexus.UUCP> Reply-To: oz@yunexus.UUCP (Ozan Yigit) Distribution: gnu Organization: York U. Communications Research & Development Lines: 45 In article nelson@clutx.clarkson.edu writes: >Right. What we have here is a difference of opinion about whether this is >acceptable or not. Indeed, a subjective one. The intent to benefit public at-large, however, is our objective goal which we presumably agree on. > > In fact, the whole misinformation bit about PD stuff is quite > tiring. >But it is *not* misinformation. Sorry, I did not mean to imply that you had misinformed, but there has been various straw man arguments against PDness, and there seems to be some misunderstanding as to what PD means. >If *I* want all of my code to be distributed >with source, and someone uses some code that I have put into the PD and, for >whatever reasons of their own, refuses to distribute source, I have no >recourse. They are using my code in a way that is anathema to me. This is true. The missing bit is that noone has the right (nor, possibly the capability, depending on how you distribute) to restrict the original code [the one you provably authored and released into public domain] in any way. So, I do not see what the problem is. The original has been, is, and will be available (whatever available means in the context of software distribution) to the public at-large as always. Whatever benefits such software may have to the public at-large is undiminished. >I accept that you don't care if some/all of your code is distributed without >source. I presume that you accept that I *do* care. I do accept your stance. My point is that the fine distinction you seem to be making with regards to "availability of source" (in the context of public domainness) does not exist. Think of the source (notes) of Beethoven's fifth. oz -- There are two kinds of fool. Internet: oz@nexus.yorku.ca One says, "This is old, and therefore good" Uucp: uunet!utai!yunexus!oz And one says "This is new, and therefore Better" Bitnet: oz@[yulibra|yuyetti] John Brunner (The Shockwave Rider) Phonet: +1 416 736-5257x3976