Re: Roaring Penguin's view

Am Mit, 2002-06-12 um 15.28 schrieb Sean C. Farley:

> "Suppose you derive a product from Microsoft Windows or some other
> proprietary code. Then you are breaking all kinds of license agreements.
> Furthermore, proprietary vendors would demand and get the rights to your
> derived product, leaving you with nothing."
> 
> I could develop a proprietary product for Windows without "breaking all
> kinds of license agreements".  He statement says you WILL be breaking
> license agreements if you develop a proprietary product.

He says "derive a product from", not "develop a product for". Subtle
difference. Of course you can develop proprietary products for Windows.
You can do the same for Linux and even the Hurd. 

> From the paper:
> 
> "However, the use of the GPL has the potential to radically alter a very
> successful model for partnership, particularly when most large
> commercial entities do not readily embrace the GPL. "
> 
> He did not disprove that statement.  He just showed a few examples and
> used them to turn it into an attack.

Well if I understood him right he mainly says: "I don't care for those 
commercial entities that don't embrace the GPL - there are enough that
do."

> I am sorry, but his rebuttal uses too much FUD for me to take it
> seriously.  This is regardless of whether or not the paper he is
> responding to is valid.

Much less FUD than what he's responding to. Yes, his statements are
provocative and his tone aggressive. But he has a number of very valid
points.

Sometimes it is enlightening to look over your shoulder and see who is
with you. IMHO, if someone is in the Free Software or Open Source camp,
and finds himself using the same arguments as Microsoft and its allies,
it is time to sit back and think.

Martin

PS These are my personal views, not my employer's.

-- 
Martin Wilck                Phone: +49 5251 8 15113
Fujitsu Siemens Computers   Fax:   +49 5251 8 20409
Heinz-Nixdorf-Ring 1	    mailto:[email protected]
D-33106 Paderborn           http://www.fujitsu-siemens.com/primergy