Re: WineX and the AFPL

On Tue, 4 Jun 2002, Roger Fujii wrote:

> I, for one, don't think that you have to hand over your entire wallet to 
> make a contribution. 

This is a good analogy.  The *GPL licenses are like a commune where members
donate ALL their income to the common pool.  Since everyone contributes all 
they can, some call this "fair".  Then again, someone with above-average 
income might consider it "unfair" that they would have to shoulder more 
than their share of the burden just because they earn more money.  (This is 
a bit like income taxes too, I guess...)

A cooperative is a reasonable alternative to a commune.  If everyone is 
expected to contribute equal amounts, some would call this more "fair" than 
the "contribute everything" model of a commune.  And yet, some of those in 
a commune would cite the cooperative as "unfair" because the poorer members 
have to pay a disproportionate percentage of their income.  Who's right?

Why do I get the feeling that which is more fair is really a classic debate 
with no objective right answer, just differences of opinion based on each 
point of view?  Are the *GPL camps and the hopeful patch-traders inherently 
on opposite sides of this classic debate?  Is it then irreconcilable?

Deven