Re: GPL and Nvidia

From: Gerhard Mack (gmack@innerfire.net)
Date: Thu Jan 02 2003 - 12:21:59 EST


On Thu, 2 Jan 2003, Andrew Walrond wrote:

> I think we were suckered into the GPL by lawyers ;)
>
> Seriously though, I believe the GPL is the biggest impediment to
> gnu/linux and open source software that anyone could possibly come up
> with. Frankly I'm suprised NVidia and others bother supporting linux,
> but am very glad they do.
>
> IMO The only license we need is
>
> "Here is, for what it's worth, some software. You can use it in any way
> you like; modify it, fix it and if you can make some money from it -
> great! Go feed your family. Fixes, changes and improvements are always
> welcome, but not mandatory. Enjoy!"
>
> We'd likely have to set up a hardship fund for lawyers though. Wouldn't
> want them to starve ;)
>
> Too late for gnu/linux though. :(

So you want a BSD licence...

There are strong reasons why GPL is a good thing and I prefer it to BSD.
IMO GPL makes it easier to add code to a common base without risking
someone taking the code and adding code+theircode and releasing a
proprietary competing project what's always 3 steps ahead of the open
source version. For all the complaints it gets the GPL does what it's
designed to do and that's a good thing.

        Gerhard

--
Gerhard Mack

gmack@innerfire.net

<>< As a computer I find your faith in technology amusing.

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