Re: [gentoo-user] Re: 2 to 3??

[Mike Edenfield <kutulu@kutulu.org>]

»Q« wrote:
> In <news:469D18A7.9090001@kutulu.org>,
> Mike Edenfield <kutulu@kutulu.org> wrote:
> 
>> Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. wrote:
>>
>>> Remember that the GPL has always been about all the users NOT just
>>> the developers/distributors -- "adapt it to your needs" is not
>>> allowed when it restricts other users' freedoms.  
>> Very few GPL proponents are willing to make this (rather obviously
>> true) statement; I'm glad some are.  But to be more accurate, one
>> should say that the GPL has always been about guaranteeing users
>> freedoms *at the expense of* the developer's freedoms.
> 
> Perhaps you mean downstream developers who accept the GPL granted by
> upstream?  The original developers can do whatever they like with their
> code, since they don't need to license it from anyone.

Yes, I wasn't very clear in my original statement.  I was 
referring to developers who choose to use code licensed 
under a GPL or similar license.  The GPL removes their
freedoms, in order to guarantee other freedoms for the bulk 
of the public.  I've spoken with many people who balk at 
stating things this way, but it's simple truth.  It's really 
a reasonable compromise, IMO.  The "downstream" developers 
are making the choice to give up their freedoms by 
using/modifying the code to begin with.


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