Re: [Fresco-devel] Re: Cross-platformability

M. Evans wrote:
> fdrfo> I haven't seen businesspeople running screaming from GTK+ or Motif, or
> fdrfo> including special modified versions with every app, either.
> 
> Try asking them for source code to their customized GTK+ widgets and
> you will hear them scream.  The LGPL gives you the right to ask.

no ! Well, if you mean by 'customized' modificated versions of libgtk*,
then yes. But nowadays you customize by *deriving* your own classes.
You do that without modifying the original. In fact that's the whole
point of inheritance. No problem at all with the LGPL here...

> So the LGPL -- in practice -- is a bit like speed limits.  Everybody
> knows the law, but nobody obeys it.

That's rediculous. LGPL *works*, not because everybody is circumventing
it, but because it *permits* proprietary derivative work.

> Without engaging a debate, I will just say that my position
> is correct and does not arise from some kind of misguided

just stating that it is correct doesn't make it so.

> psychological fear factors.  It arises from direct business
> experience and careful research.

yes, lots of business people seem to be confused about any kind of
license that doesn't use the term 'permission' the same way they are
used to. You may indeed read the papers I referenced earlier to see.

And yes, this confusion does seem to stem from general fear because
(L)GPL does funky things with the market's own tools to 'defend freedom'.

Stefan