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From: jb3o+@andrew.cmu.edu (Jon Allen Boone)
Newsgroups: gnu.misc.discuss,alt.religion.computers
Subject: Re: Disinfecting the GNU Public Virus...er...License
Message-ID: <4ZYPWMC00W0T5LNvBh@andrew.cmu.edu>
Date: 22 Dec 89 05:16:08 GMT
References: <4&VSZ:@splut.conmicro.com> <1989Dec20.170048.14251@relay.nswc.navy.mil>,
	<62@zds-ux.UUCP>
Organization: Class of '92, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
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In-Reply-To: <62@zds-ux.UUCP>

gerry@zds-ux.UUCP (Gerry Gleason) writes:

> I personally have a much bigger problem with the way AT&T has taken all
> kinds of code developed for the public domain and made it part of their
> licensed product.  If FSF and the GPL was around while UNIX was evolving
> in the university community, much of what we now must pay for would
> already be covered by the GPL and thus publicly available for out perusal.
> Now they have to develop the tools again from scratch, so it will take some
> time.

Of course, another glorious paradox arises.  If FSF and the GPL had
been around when Unix was being developed, then granted, Unix source
would be available and there would be free versions of a generally
nifty os for as many computer types as we could find geeks to port it
to.  However, if this had been true, then the FSF would have no reason
to exist - the GNU project would be purposeless.  Remember - GNU's Not
Unix - it's a replacement for Unix.  

> Gerry Gleason


iain the flippant | You'll PAY To Know What You REALLY Think |
jb3o@andrew.cmu.edu(INTERNET) | Your MIND Left Intentionally Blank |
R746JB3O@cmccvb(BITNET) | SCIENCE DOES NOT REMOVE THE TERROR OF THE GODS|
disclaimer: anything I say may be wrong - I don't represent anyone but me