Re: Ten years later

//\\o//\\annabee wrote:
På Sun, 04 Mar 2007 20:24:33 +0100, skrev Frank Kotler <fbkotler@xxxxxxxxxxx>:

Guga wrote:

...
RosAsm license is GPL compatible,

Stallman has specifically stated that the "RosAsm License Agreement" is *not* compatible with GPL (according to Betov). As a non-lawyer, even *I* can see that the RosAsm License Agreement imposes additional restrictions, and that the GPL specifically prohibits additional restrictions.

When and where did Stallman say that << "RosAsm License Agreement" is
*not* compatible with GPL" >> ????

Private conversation with Betov. I could be wrong about this, but I think that's what Betov told us.

I dont know why RosAsm has two licences,

Well... (I am not a lawyer) the way I read it is that the RLA says that if I work for the government (and a nebulous "etc."), I need to ask the Author's permission to use RosAsm. (I'm not sure if that's "use" or "use code from"). I have no problem with that provision, but it ain't GPL.

And I find it peculiar, but then again, it should not scare anyone. If you adhere to the GPL, you be safe.

I guess so.

What I find most disturbing about the RPL is that it can only help to cause more confusion. We allready has much trouble explaining
the GPL to users, and adding a licence to that, DOES NOT HELP!!

Agreed.

Second, such an extra licence will certainly have absolutly no possible _real_ effect, because in order to have a second licence, you need to be prepared to enforce it.

Right. How do we enforce a licence that restricts the government?

Uhder the GPL, noone need to even ask the author in order to COPY, MODIFY and FORK and DISTRIBUTE the original AND or modified work, even for a fee. As long as they keept their part of the licence (Freedom of modifications), they can, in practical sense, do what they want. the GPL err to the side of the Freedom of the Software.

Doesn't do much of a job preserving the "Freedom of the Software". I've got Nasm enslaved on my hard drive. I force it to do all sorts of perverted things, and never give it any food or water (it gets a little coffee sometimes :). If it escapes in some way, I'll only reinstall and re-enslave it. I can force it to "reproduce" (derivative works), and distribute the "children" to other slave owners - the GPL requires me to make source code available. Nasm can be re-enslaved, so long as the proper "papers" accompany it. Some protection! :)

Would you make the above statement under oath?

No.

Lawers writings are 100% perverse. Lawers are the scum of the earth. Hell will be stacked with them.

Well... excepting Guga. He seems like a pretty nice guy.

And understanding a licence, completely is _way_ over my head.

Yep. And Guga's explanations don't help much - I don't know if it's because he doesn't speak English very well, or because he speaks legalese *very* well, but I'm usually more confused after than before.

If I'm a government employee, developing software to build a bigger bomb, am I allowed to use RosAsm to develop that software, or not? Don't tell me about whether it's going to be incorporated into RosAsm or not. I know that *if* I borrow code from RosAsm (some people claim it blows up! :), and *if* I distribute the result, I must licence the result GPL (or maybe RLA?). But suppose I *don't* do one of those things? What does that "government" clause mean? What's the definition of "institution"?

It is infact rather impossible to even a lawer. What is the only test of licence is what happens when it is taken to a courtroom.

Yup. And sometimes their rulings defy logic, common sense, and "reality" (to be defined later).

As we know, beeing in court, cost a lot of money.

And if you're going up against the gubmint, it might take "lawyers GUNS and money"!

So poor people have no rights even when they have a licence. Because they cant afford to have it tried. Thats why GPL is good.

Well... if you've turned your copyright over to FSF, they might prosecute it. Otherwise, I don't see how GPL helps.

Because as long as the source is on the 10000 of hands, what can the crime and co do? Sue the whole fucking world?

RIAA and MPAA seem to be willing...

If they close down one site, 10 new will pop up.

Yeah, but this is a solution to a different problem. (but a very good thing... PGP...)

Best,
Frank
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