🚀 go-pugleaf

There are a number of systems, and I believe kermit is one
of them, which are protected under "public use" copyrights.

The main problem here is that when something is put in public
domain, the author gives up all rights, including the right
to control "derivative works", which may not be public domain
OR public use.

GNU and the Free Software Foundation is an example of "public
use" copyrighted material.  In this case, you MUST be provided
with the source, you CAN'T make proprietary changes, and you
must include source to any enhancements you make.  Ironicly,
FSF does sell GNU products, but doesn't try to charge for
"percieved value", or try to enforce restrictive liscence
agreements.  What they are charging for is the basic costs
of distribution, with a small margin of profit.  Per user,
a GNU release is about $5/copy.  Releases come out frequently,
and there is no "hand holding", but the products released
so far are very high quality.  You ARE allowed to give
copies to others, in fact, it's encouraged, but you MUST
include the source.

Some software is along the lines of Kermit.  You can give it
away, pass it around, and "throw it in" with other software
packages (like the developers kit), but you can't SELL kermit
by itself.

Many people put copyright notices on their software and then
permit free distribution.  It is important to read the terms
of the copyright and abide by them.  If you want to improve
and sell something which has a copyright notice attached,
you should contact the author for terms before even starting.
Even if you just want to improve it, contact the author.

It is a good idea to include a copyright notice on anything
you submit anywhere, not because you are greedy, but because
you cannot prevent someone else from using your code for a
commercial product.  It is a good idea to include basic
terms, followed by "all other rights reserved".

Ironicly, copying something out of a magazine or a book that
is copyrighted does not make that source "public domain", in
fact, the material may be covered under several different
copyrights (the magazine, the original author, the publisher).
On the other hand, the royalties are often so low, that they
are even practical for commercial use.

See net.legal, read the copyright act of 1978, and "the rights
of authors and artists" to see what the current story on
copyrights is.