[nzlug] Re: M$ is targeting YOU

[Simon Bridge]

On Fri, 2007-03-30 at 03:44 +1200, Robin Sheat wrote:
> On Thursday 29 March 2007 21:34:23 Simon Bridge wrote:
> > The GPL is *built* on copywrite law.
> Copy*right*, there's a difference.
Yeah, all write - so I carnt spel.
> 
> If copyright didn't exist, the GPL wouldn't need to exist. Extrapolate what 
> would happen if there was no copyright. On one hand, things would be more 
> like BSD license. But if you look further, there's nothing stopping people 
> copying any binary. Or, if they get it, any source.
Dear me, how *did* people produce such great creative works for all
those centuries in the absence of copy*right* law?

Do I take it then that you would not honour your own solemn word in an
undertaking without some great Hammer of Law waiting to crush you?

> 
> The GPL effectively enforces sharing, which would be able to proceed 
> unhindered if there was no copyright. 
No - peoples' *willingness to share* enforces sharing. People are happy
to share music even though their licence forbids this.

The GPL does not *require* the sharing of source code, though it does
spell out those circumstances under which sharing is required when GPL
code is used - i.e. when a program is distributed.