On Fri, 12 Jan 2001, Ben Tilly wrote:

> Most people who develop software for a company are not
> developing software for resale.  Therefore the GPL is not
> an issue in practice for most professional programmers.
> 

Clarification. GPL does not prohibit the sale of software developed with
licensed code...it prohibits the privitizations of siad code and its
modification or extension.

Red Hat builds upon Linux and sells it every day of the week :-)

GPL exp0licitly defines "free" as not pertaining to price but to availability
of source for modification and extension. It requires only that modifications
and extensions to GPL licensed source be made available as source in the same
way that the original source was made available.  Returning  "new and improved"
source to the developer community is considered a fair "price" for having the
ability to (relatively) easily custimize/extend/improve the original.

Contrast this with many closed soured proprietary EULA's which prohibit (or try
to, anyway) _any_ modifications or extensions even if not for resale!

Now, which would _you_ rather procure for your company or project...something
you can freely customize or your specific needs or something you musn't touch?

Proprietization of source code is simply a way of building in false and
non-intrinsic value into a product. _Real_ value means I can use/modify to
_precisely_ fit my needs; I decide _precisely_ what I want to do with it and
not some unknown developer (or worse, product manager) 3,000 miles away!

And, if I put _real_ business value into a product and offer it at a fair
price, why do I fear making source available? Because _you_ will build a better
product with enhance business value. Then more power to you! Right _is_ right,
is it not?   Plus, with open source I get to review _your_ work and come back
atch! :-)

<soapbox>
End result...a better world, ultimately, for all.  Competiton is the life blodd
of free marekts. Vive la revolucion! :-)
</soapbox>

Whew.  Got _that_ outta my system! :-)

Warm regards
Kent Starr
elderburn / mindspring.com