18 Dec
2003
18 Dec
'03
11:53 a.m.
At 11.42 17/12/2003, you wrote:
1) The system should not have buyware installed,
No such restriction exists, AFAIK
but may come bundled with buyware on a second CD that
the User may install
at their whim. Such a CD should be carefully and CLEARLY marked, so it is
not confused with Open Source software.
"Open Source" is a detail. Try to actually understand what are licenses
about: just slapping labels may be easier, but is stupid. Software licenses
cover two aspects: use and redistribution (if sources are available and the
license treats them differently, also add: use of code and redistribution
of code. Also note that imposing restrictions on the use - e.g. "no
commercial use" - may or may not be legal). Most open source licenses, for
example, allow unlimited use, limited distribution of the software and
sources and limited use of the code
Now try to explain, from the user's point of view, what's the difference
between a software to which he's granted unlimited use and limited
distribution (e.g. "Redistribution is free, as long as the software is
unchanged") but not source code access and one to which he's granted
unlimited use, limited distribution (e.g. "Redistribution is free, as long
as source code is also offered") and limited source code access
The user should be made aware that it is perfectly
legal for them to use
that CD to install ROS on any machine they own, and feel it is needed on,
and that the same applies to all other Open source software bundled with
the unit.)
It's not that easy. Redistribution is rarely free - in fact, limiting
redistribution is *the* point of most licenses. The idea that open source
developers are nice and forgiving and won't sue, and if they sued they'd be
harmless, is wrong and misleading. The "free" in "free software"
refers to
the use: redistribution certainly isn't, and telling ignorant people that
it is just because you feel like a freaking guerrilla fighting against a
greater evil is stupid and harms your own cause. Repeat with me: open
source isn't a free coupon ticket for a 20% discount on legal knowledge