on Fri, Apr 26, 2002 at 04:17:35PM +0000, MJ Ray wrote:
xs@kittenz.org xs@kittenz.org wrote:
Linking against restricted software doesn't cause the loss of the ability to use the software.
Yes it does, as it obliges people to use the restricted software, possibly including discriminatory licence terms ("free for education" anyone?).
motif/lesstif, office/<insert your favourite here>, etc..
If it's GPL'd and you want to use it, you have the source code from which you can derive the API of any disagreeable libraries. If you can't be bothered to write a free version, look for alternatives/lobby author/etc.
Anyway, why are you assuming that free software is written for free?
I wasn't.
Yes, but you're assuming that the fsf will only improve and update the gpl to fix loopholes, and that those updates are correct. [...]
Why do you think the safeguards the FSF has in place will fail to do this in the future?
Because if they need to use them, it will mean the safeguards failed previously.
</friday-moan>