Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!rutgers!mit-eddie!bu-cs!tower From: tower@bu-cs.UUCP Newsgroups: news.admin,news.misc,news.groups,news.software.b Subject: Re: Public Domain Netnews... Message-ID: <4324@bu-cs.BU.EDU> Date: Wed, 18-Feb-87 13:17:54 EST Article-I.D.: bu-cs.4324 Posted: Wed Feb 18 13:17:54 1987 Date-Received: Thu, 19-Feb-87 20:29:13 EST References: <1312@hplabsc.UUCP> Reply-To: tower@prep.ai.mit.edu (Leonard H. Tower Jr.) Followup-To: news.software.b Organization: Boston Univ. CS Dept. Lines: 38 Xref: watmath news.admin:156 news.misc:186 news.groups:375 news.software.b:271 In article <1312@hplabsc.UUCP> you write: > While recently perusing the latest version of netnews, 2.11, from > Rick Adams, I noticed that it is now copyrighted by him. This is > a cause for concern for various reasons, not the least of which is that > we suddenly have a piece of software that everyone is running and is > freely distributed (but not public domain) that is legally owned by > an individual. > > ... > > All responses are being funnelled into news.software.b for now, so if > you'd like to continue the discussion, please put it there or via email > to me. > > -- Dave Taylor (taylor@hplabs.HP.COM) Dave: The problems you fear aren't solved by putting the software into the Public Domain. I suggest that you consider organizing the netnews rewrite under the Free Software Foundation that Richard Stallman has organized for his GNU Project. RMS' approach insures that the software had its freedom, and that source is always available whenever the software is distributed. You might also organized a similar non-profit corporation to hold the copyright, and license the software in the "free" or "public-domain-like" manner you choose. Further information is available from the internet address: UUCP: ..!mit-eddie!mit-prep!gnu -- Len Tower, Distributed Systems Group, Boston University, 111 Cummington Street, Boston, MA 02215, USA +1 (617) 353-2780 Home: 36 Porter Street, Somerville, MA 02143, USA +1 (617) 623-7739 UUCP: {}!harvard!bu-cs!tower INTERNET: tower@bu-cs.bu.edu