🚀 go-pugleaf

In <9106211515.AA01248@fenris.idt.unit.no>, the author asks:

> What happens if you decide to use a piece of GNU software in an
> embedded system.
>
> Let's take a hypotetichal example:
>  - You are the manufacturer of X-terminals
>  - You want to give your terminals a Display PostScript extension
>  - Adobe will charge you for a lot of money for a DPS interpreter
>    source. 
>  - You make a DPS extension based on GhostScript
>
> Will this be legal?
> Will you then be required to give away the source, even if this means
> you'll give your competitors (who are the only ones interested in it)
> a head start?

My belief is that you DO have to give away your source code, with a
copyleft that allows anyone to copy it, since your Ghostscript with
DPS extension is a "derived work".

Ghostscript, however, is in a unique position, because FSF doesn't
own it: Aladdin Enterprises does.  Aladdin distributes Ghostscript
with the copyleft, as part of the GNU enterprise, but Aladdin also
licenses Ghostscript under standard commercial terms (no source code
distribution requirement, no right of users to copy, etc.) for a fee.
I think this is an appropriate compromise that allows the world to
get the most important benefits of Ghostscript for free, while
allowing profit-seeking companies to add competitive value.

L. Peter Deutsch :: Aladdin Enterprises :: P.O. box 60264, Palo Alto, CA 94306
ghost@aladdin.com ; ...decwrl!aladdin!ghost ; (415)322-0103 <<< note phone #
	    "Implementation is the sincerest form of flattery."