Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!mcnc!uvaarpa!murdoch!adminsun.ee.Virginia.EDU!hess
From: hess@adminsun.ee.Virginia.EDU (Paul Hess)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Re:  X-Windows Advice
Message-ID: <1991Jan1.141623.4388@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>
Date: 1 Jan 91 14:16:23 GMT
References: <9012310051.AA28309@lightning.McRCIM.McGill.ED2>
Sender: news@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU
Organization: AbTech Corporation
Lines: 27

In article <9012310051.AA28309@lightning.McRCIM.McGill.ED2> mouse@LIGHTNING.MCRCIM.MCGILL.EDU writes:
>Paul Hess writes about X advice.  I've replied directly by mail, as he
>requested, but one thing he says I think calls for a public reply.
>
>> Are they [some libraries] public domain (like X is)
>
>This seems to be a very common misconception, that "public domain"
>means the same thing as "available for free" or "redistributable
>without fee" or some such.
>
>THIS IS NOT TRUE.  "Public domain" is a legal term with a specific

You're right!  I agree with you that this is a dangerous shorthand.  
Especially true because I knew it was not "Public Domain".  What I really
meant and should have said is "freely distributable".

ps:  Thanks for all the replies.  Some of you pointed out the FAQ list
which I wasn't aware of.  In addition, I've received some useful opinion
type information.  I'll post a summary in a while when the mail stops
coming in.

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 Paul Hess                          E-Mail: hess@adminsun.ee.virginia.edu
 AbTech Corporation                                   Phone  804-977-0686
 700 Harris Street                                      Fax  804-979-3749
 Charlottesville, Virginia  22901
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