Re: Publicly funded software development (was: KDE v. Gnome)

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Article #1289

#1289

From: Joe Buck
Date: Wed, 07 Oct 1998 00:00

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phm@a2e.de "PILCH Hartmut" writes:
>> I am assuming that Open Source software, even if it comes under the GPL,
>> will contain lots of parts that are reused in closed-source programs.

Phil Hunt <philh@vision25.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>This is only possible if they break the law.

Breaking the law is one way (probably common); legal "clean room"
reimplementation is another way.

If somebody writes an amazing algorithm that sorts data faster than
anything else, the GPL won't stop commercial folks from writing their
own implementation.  Only a patent can do that.
-- 
-- Joe Buck
   work: jbuck@synopsys.com, otherwise jbuck@welsh-buck.org or jbuck@best.com
http://www.welsh-buck.org/

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From: jbuck@best.com (Joe Buck)
Subject: Re: Publicly funded software development (was: KDE v. Gnome)
Date: 1998/10/07
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