🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <2843F55A.21400@ics.uci.edu> jhummel@wave.ics.uci.edu
(Joseph Edward Hummel) writes:

   I'm a newcomer to GNU [...]

Welcome!

   Can someone charge a non-trivial fee for porting GCC?  I thought
   only fees related to copying the software could be charged.

Informally, you cannot use GNU code to *tie* a client to you, to
construct a dependency.  However, you might charge for your work.  GNU
is promoting freedom, which is not exactly the same thing as freeness
(gratuitousness).  You cannot sell your modifications, in that sense
that you cannot force someone to give you money for the code without
explaining them they could get it freely otherwize.

So, you may sell your effort, but not the result of it, which has to
be freely available.  There is a software house, Cygnus, which makes a
living by supporting and correcting GNU for those companies which need
this kind of service, or security.  And Cygnus contributes several
improvments to the GNU software.

This is my comprehension of the things, at least.  Please someone
correct me if I'm wrong.  But do it gently :-).
--
Franc,ois Pinard          ``Vivement GNU!''         pinard@iro.umontreal.ca
(514) 588-4656    cp 886 L'Epiphanie (Qc) J0K 1J0    ...!uunet!iros1!pinard