Re: Realtime/embedded project to help with employment.

[Marin David Condic <nobody@noplace.com>]

Well, I wouldn't say "worse" - the GMGPL has a place in the world. So 
does the GPL. Please try to understand, I don't "hate" the GPL or think 
it has no place in the world. I think there are better alternatives for 
certain sorts of software development efforts.

Here's a case - the Gnat compiler. It was originally developed under 
government contract, so basically I paid for it in the form of my taxes. 
Having done that, it made sense to allow me to get free access to the 
work I had already paid for and do so with the GPL. ACT picks it up and 
got their R&D done at my expense and in return to me as an investor, 
they occasionally release upgrades and other things. Meanwhile, they can 
make a profit by selling support, early releases, etc., to their 
customers. Its perfectly just and equitable, as well as providing all 
sorts of good marketing tools to ACT and Ada in general.

Similarly, the GMGPL has its place in the world. If the libraries in 
Gnat weren't under the GMGPL, there would be large numbers of potential 
users who would have to reject their use because they couldn't take the 
"infection" it would introduce into their own products. So if ACT hopes 
to get these customers using their compiler, it needs an alternative 
license.

Now if I, as a private individual, build some software that might be 
generally useful and I want to distribute it widely to start creating a 
market for it, I'd want something different in the way of a license. I 
want the distribution aspects of the GPL because it gets people to start 
using my stuff. But I want to be able to insure that I stand some sort 
of chance of getting compensated for my sweat equity if my spiffy little 
program starts looking good from a profit standpoint. I think such a 
scheme is possible and attractive.

But if you want to turn something loose under the GMGPL and let me pick 
it up and turn it into a billion dollar industry, you're free to do so. 
I'll be sure to send you a "Thank You" note. :-)

MDC


Preben Randhol wrote:
> 
> Actually I would probably place some of what I'm making now under GMGPL
> which is even worse in your view as then you can snatch it and make a
> closed source shrink wrapped commercial program based on this and make
> money without giving me a penny :-). But of course not all of it would
> be GMGPL :-)
> 


-- 
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Marin David Condic
I work for: http://www.belcan.com/
My project is: http://www.jast.mil/

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     to the other."

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