🚀 go-pugleaf

  My original post asked if it was legal for people to charge others for
the work of porting gcc (or other GNUware).  Thanks to all who replied,
here and via email.  The bottom line is that it sure is legal, and even
desirable.

  But something still bothers me.  One of the ideas of the FSF (correct me
if I'm wrong) is that software should be free so that people can build on
the work of others, instead of having to reinvent the wheel.  But if
someone can take say gcc, port it, and yet they don't have to release it,
where's the benefit to society?  If I have to port gcc to a similar
platform, I end up having to reinvent.  Is this where reality (GPL)
meets the FSF?

  Related question to above, which I don't get the answer to from reading
the license.  Suppose company X ports gcc.  I work for company X, and have
access to the port of gcc.  Can I legally give this software away to
others, even if X doesn't want it released?  Or does company X own the port
of gcc at this point, and so I'm stealing by copying it?

Thanks in advance, and sorry if you've covered this before...

  - joe
--
Joe Hummel
ICS Graduate Student, UC Irvine
Internet: jhummel@ics.uci.edu