🚀 go-pugleaf

The GPL does NOT say that any work you do on GPL'd s/w must be released in
some public forum.  It merely states the conditions by which you can
release it.

I could take G++, fix all the bugs, and just keep it for myself.  I
could give it to my best friend, and they could, if they chose, keep it
to themselves.  I could post to USENET telling about all the excellent
changes I have made, and laugh at people who begged for a copy of my
changes.  What I cannot do is prevent my friend from giving away
the changes.  THAT is the essence of the GPL.

By the same token, Cygnus can do anything to GPL'd software, and release
it to anyone they choose.  They don't have to give it to anyone.

The fact that Cygnus does make public releases through FSF (in addition
to any fixes they do for clients) merely indicates that they understand
the benefits of free software - they believe it is in their interest to
push public versions out the door at certain regular intervals.

Readers of the GPL don't need to read between the lines.  Their is no
hidden morality questions.  The fact is simple:  if you try to subvert
the GPL, you'll only lose out.  That is its strength as a legal document:
it doesn't rely on people "being nice" - which we all know, people are NOT.

I'm glad I can protect my software by applying the GPL.

--
Warwick
--
 _-_|\     warwick@cs.uq.oz.au    \   Microsoft is not the answer, Microsoft
/     * <- Comp Science Department,\   is the question.  NO is the answer.
\_.-._/    University of Queensland,)
     v     Brisbane, Australia.    /  Intel Inside?  Don't Divide!