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From: mrn@eplunix.UUCP (Mark R. Nilsen)
Newsgroups: comp.dsp
Subject: Re: Looking for a PD 56000 assembler
Message-ID: <1026@eplunix.UUCP>
Date: 6 Feb 91 18:30:52 GMT
References: <1991Feb5.154259.27045@agate.berkeley.edu>
Organization: Eaton-Peabody Lab, Boston, MA
Lines: 29

in article <1991Feb5.154259.27045@agate.berkeley.edu>, doug@eris.berkeley.edu (Doug Merritt) says:
> In article <10761@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU> jbuck@galileo.berkeley.edu (Joe Buck) writes:
> 
> I take it that Stallman believes that if you link with Gnu libraries,
> then the entire s/w is then under the Gnu copyright? Radical.
> 
> We did our own C++ library just to avoid that possibility, but I still
> have personal difficulty with that point. From a *technical* point of
> view, using a library shouldn't allow what amounts to confiscation of
> the software using the library.

First of all your software will not be "confiscated" it only must be
made available for anyone under the terms of "Copyleft".  Secondly
anyone can put whatever conditions they want under the software they
sell you.  It is your right to accept the terms or not.  That is why
most software has the conditions written on the out-side of the seal
so one can review the terms before commiting.

I have heard several interpretations of the copyleft agreement. 
The one that seems to be working (for those who are afraid of this
sort of thing) is the interpretation that only the code that uses
the Gnu libs are covered under copyleft.

You may email me if you want a copy of the copyleft agreement.

--Mark.

"Don't worry about people stealing your ideas.  If your ideas are any
good, you'll have to ram them down people's throats." --Howard Aiken.