On Monday 16 May 2005 07:35, Jerry Feldman wrote:
On Mon, 16 May 2005 00:52:36 +1000
On Monday 16 May 2005 00:12, Jerry Feldman wrote:
On Sun, 15 May 2005 23:45:27 +1000
Colin Carter
wrote: Thank you for your info, and for the web site reference. I interpret those docs as saying that if I write, say a word processor, using these Motif routines then I must give away all of my code as Open Source. In the case of Qt I can purchase a copy and write my own code without having to disclose my source code. But X11 and Xt are simply free.
Hi Jerry, I had a look at http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/lesser.html and got the impression that if I used this code (eg Open Motif) then I would be able to sell my word processor but I would have to give away the code and then anybody could compete with me by selling my product which I spent hours into the night developing.
Quote: snip End Quote.
But if I use M$ software then my product is mine. snip The GNU LGPL license allows you to build a proprietary product. This is why we have both the GPL and the LGPL. We have plenty of good
Colin Carter
wrote: proprietary products on Linux. Additionally, XT has nothing to do with Linux other than you can use Linux to build and run a derivative product. GPL would require that you release your code as OpenSource, but the LGPL and some other licenses do not have this requirement. I think you will find the GNU LIBC and other system libraries and header files on Linux licensed the same way (eg. LGPL). BTW: It used to be that if you built your code on a Windows system using Borland, Microsoft, or some other C language systems a few years ago, you would have been liable to pay them a royalty.
Thanks for your feedback Jerry, Yes, I think that you are right in your statement : "This is why we have both the GPL and the LGPL." It makes sense: otherwise why have two separate ideas? You are right about the M$ fee. I always thought it a "bit rich" that you payed for the software and then still paid through the nose; but I had forgotten that that was the situation way back when. As I said to Jerry, I wouldn't mind buying a compiler etc (in fact I regularly pay for software), it is just that I don't want my many hours of work ripped off by a "disk jockey" who hasn't contributed an iota. Thanks again Jerry, your opinion is much appreciated. Colin