Mark A. Hershberger wrote:
> I'm a GPL user and a GPL programmer. In this case, I would say “Let the
> market decide”. If that many programmers felt the way you do, they
> wouldn't create or modify GPL software and Linux, Gnome, Java, MySQL,
> Emacs, GCC, etc would either cease to exist or would never have been
> licensed under the GPL in the first place.
You can't "let the market decide" because the GPL circumvents the
ability of the market to make decisions. By FORCING programmers to
submit their changes in the GPL, the a market-based decision can't be
made. Programmers who may want the changes they have submitted to be
licensed differently can't make that choice. And that doesn't even
address the fact that the market doesn't always make the best decisions.
> How does the GPL harm programmers who don't want its viral effects to
> affect their software?
It harms programmers because it infringes upon each programmers ability
to place restrictions and requirements on the software they have
written. It is the principle that _no one_ has the right to dictate to
you how your work is release and licensed. That's the problem with GPL
supporters, especially RMS, they have no respect for the rights people
have over their work. My right to access your software NEVER overrides
the right of the creator to decide how people can use or license his/her
software.
J
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Received on 12/13/08
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