🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1990Jun19.181215.23743@twinsun.com> eggert@ata.twinsun.com 
(Paul Eggert) writes:

>Why is it OK for GNU DIFF's README to cite a ``non-free'' journal,
>but not OK for the gawk manual to cite a ``non-free'' book?

I believe the whole thing is a bad misunderstanding, or due to a moment of
silliness or late-night brain-mushiness. I would doubt very much that FSF
intends to extend the ideology behind GPL to published works, journals,
etc. in a way expressed in Gnu AWK manual. If that is the case, it would
be very reasonable to expect FSF folks to do their software development
without any reference to existing published works, and re-invent
everything. :-) 

>Doesn't it hamper the free flow of information to refuse to cite work
>that is freely available in any good technical library?

Good question. I believe anything that is used as a reference during 
development should be given due credit, especially in the documentation.
That is usually referred as "academic/intellectual honesty".

>Should giving proper credit to other people's technical contributions
>depend on agreeing with their politics?

Presumably not. I expect FSF folk to clarify this matter eventually, and
hopefully in a manner consistent with intellectual freedoms we continue 
to enjoy.

oz
First learn your horn and all the theory.	Internet: oz@nexus.yorku.ca
Next develop a style. Then forget all that 	uucp: utzoo/utai!yunexus!oz
and just play.		Charlie Parker [?]	York U. CCS: (416) 736 5257