Re: Licences

["Björn Persson" <spam-away@nowhere.nil>]

Martin Dowie wrote:
> ....on one hand the GPL is ultimately what 'Free' Software is all about, 
> isn't it? And when you hear of companies sticking satellites into space 
> using GNAT _3.15p_ then there is clearly revenue there that they are 
> just not getting (and need as much as any other business).

AdaCore doesn't sell sticking-satellites-into-space licenses that you 
have to buy before you may stick satellites into space. What they sell 
is support. If you pay they'll answer your questions and prioritize your 
bug reports. If you feel that you can program satellites without asking 
AdaCore about anything, then you're free to do so.

You're implying that those companies who have been using Gnat 3.15p will 
prefer Gnat Pro over Gnat GPL. Why is that? If it's the same company 
that writes the program and builds the satellite, then they only use the 
software internally so the GPL doesn't apply. And even if the satellite 
software would have to be GPL'd, would it really matter that much? They 
weren't going to base their business on selling lots of copies of closed 
source satellite software anyway, because who would buy it? Other 
satellites will need other programs.

-- 
Bj�rn Persson                              PGP key A88682FD
                    omb jor ers @sv ge.
                    r o.b n.p son eri nu