🚀 go-pugleaf

   Date: 24 Apr 91 08:55:45 GMT
   From: geissler@D012S050@ap542.uucp (Norbert Geissler)

   I wanted to get a port of GCC from a company which ported it to the
   same type of machine I am using.
   Porting is not trivial, because as far as I know, there are at least
   alignment problems between code generator and machine assembler.
   I got the answer, that I can get this GCC if I pay(!) for the effort they
   had to do the porting.

   my opinion:
   Being familiar with the (great) spirit of FREE software, I think
   it's not ok to get FREE software, port it for your own use and
   ask for money for this port !

You should check the GNU Manifesto and Licence to see that the "FREE"
part of Free Software is "FREEDOM" rather than "No Cost".  (An
unfortunate ambiguity in both English and German).

   my questions:
   1) Do you think, this is legal ?
   2) Anyway, what's your opinion ?

It's perfectly legal.  Of course, once they've given you a copy
there's nothing to stop you from distributing copies to folks at
whetever cost YOU choose.

I'm biased, but I don't see anything wrong with it.  After all,
presumably it WAS a lot of effort to do it, or else you'd just do it
again yourself.