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From: beck@cs.UAlberta.CA (Bob Beck)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.postscript,gnu.misc.discuss
Subject: Re: Ghostscript: The bad news
Message-ID: <1990Dec17.200012.28085@cs.UAlberta.CA>
Date: 17 Dec 90 20:00:12 GMT
References: <1990Dec16.104300.12930@pegasus.com> <1990Dec17.145953.15161@rodan.acs.syr.edu>
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Organization: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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In-Reply-To: amichiel@rodan.acs.syr.edu's message of 17 Dec 90 14:59:53 GMT

>> amichiel@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Allen J Michielsen)writes :
> ... Lots of stuff about free GNU software turning into $$$ware...

   I think you do have a misunderstanding. That's the whole point
behind the GNU GPL. The whole point of "copyleft" is that you are
**NOT** allowed to restrict the free distribution of the code for the
package in question. If a future version of Ghostscript (or ANY GNU
package) were to be released as a proprietary product, ALL the code
had better be different from the previously GNU-released version
otherwise the author is violating the GPL. The gnu GPL states that if
you use ANY GNU code covered by the GPL, then that package must be
also be subject to the same conditions. The author can't "take back"
At least that's how I read it.

   The origin of this discussion was a complaint about the author
allowing updates/improvements to his code, and the speed at which it
was done. This is something entirely different. I am sure the
person(s) in charge of the official releases of any GNU software are
inundated by "fixes" sent to them from all over the world. You may
like some of the patches you have created/seen, but remember that it
is the author's name and reputation that are going to be associated
with a package that he is giving out for free, and he has to take the
time to look at all the stuff he receives and decide what (if
anything) needs to be changed. If you don't like the response of an
author to your suggestions, then the way I see it you have only one
choice.. Put together what you want, put YOUR name and mail address on
it, and throw it onto the net. 

-Bob Beck
--
 Bob Beck, beck@cs.ualberta.ca  University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta. Canada.