Re: GNAT availability

[dweller@Starbase.NeoSoft.COM (David Weller)]

In article <3l1krg$pig@gnat.cs.nyu.edu>, Robert Dewar <dewar@cs.nyu.edu> wrote:
>One of the problems with public domain is that anyone can make their own
>copyrighted version (ever go into a music store and try to by a 
>non-copyrighted version of Beethoven piano sonatas?) The GPL stops people
>from doing this.
>
>Most people think of public domain as something that is freely available
>and will stay that way. Unfortunately public domain doesn't mean this, but
>GPL does!
>

Here's how I explain the GPL (I hope I've got the analogies right,
otherwise my mailbox is going to be filled with corrections :-):

Think of the GPL product as a pencil.

If somebody wants to sell you the pencil, they are welcome to do
that, but they must also give your the details on how the pencil was
made and how to make your own (source code)

If you use the pencil to write an epic novel, say War and Peace II,
you are welcome to publish the novel and get paid for it.  The pencil
was merely one of the tools you used.

If you use the plans for the pencil to insert a new kind of lead,
you're welcome to sell that new pencil to others -- but you must give
away the new plans as well.


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