Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!rutgers!mit-eddie!tower From: tower@mit-eddie.UUCP Newsgroups: comp.os.minix Subject: Re: Minix Copyright Info and A Quick Book Review Message-ID: <4912@mit-eddie.MIT.EDU> Date: Sat, 21-Feb-87 12:44:25 EST Article-I.D.: mit-eddi.4912 Posted: Sat Feb 21 12:44:25 1987 Date-Received: Sun, 22-Feb-87 01:52:11 EST References: <625@cdx39.UUCP> <4790@mit-eddie.MIT.EDU> <336@unirot.UUCP> Reply-To: tower@prep.ai.mit.edu (Leonard H. Tower Jr.) Organization: Project GNU, Free Software Foundation, 1000 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA +1 (617) 876-3296 Lines: 37 Keywords: software rights freedom finite immediate Summary: GNU License has several options for required source distribution Home: 36 Porter Street, Somerville, MA 02143, USA +1 (617) 623-7739 In article <336@unirot.UUCP> ron@unirot.UUCP (Ron Natalie) writes: > Len, > > Guess again. The MINIX copyright/license is not a subset of the > GNU one. Note the lack of any obligation of the copier to provide > source code to the recipient "at any time in the future." > The obligation to distribute GNU as specified in the > license is the major reason most people shy away from doing anything > with the code. While we are generally willing to use GNU and give > away the products, the liability to play software clearing house > forever as a result is quite a burden. > > ... Ron: The Gnu Public License provides a distributor of GNU based software with several options for fulfilling the obligation to make full source code available. The first option is to distribute full source code immediately with each software distribution. Use of this option fulfills entirely, for all time, one's obligation under the license to distribute source code for that software distribution. If a distributor uses this option alone, he has no liability to play software clearing house forever. Copies of the license are available from: aka ..!mit-eddie!mit-prep!gnu -- Len Tower, Project GNU of the Free Software Foundation 1000 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA +1 (617) 876-3296 HOME: 36 Porter Street, Somerville, MA 02143, USA +1 (617) 623-7739 UUCP: {}!mit-eddie!mit-prep!tower INTERNET: tower@prep.ai.mit.edu