raymond@math.berkeley.edu (Raymond Chen) (04/11/91)
[This is turning into a religious debate; please respect followups] In article <17335@sunquest.UUCP>, jew@rt (James E. Ward /87336) writes: >Kevin D. Quitt said (speaking of GNU software): But it's not free >(although it is cheap). >How do you manage to pay for GNU software? Depends on what you mean by `free'. Yes, it is `free' in the sense of `you don't have to pay anyone money to anyone to get it'. Not `free' in the sense of `no strings attached'. For example, you are required by the GPL that if anyone asks you for the program and its source code, you are REQUIRED to give it to them at no charge beyond a distribution fee. Moreover, you are REQUIRED to distribute it with a written offer, valid for at least three years, to give any third party free (save shipping charges) a complete machine-readable copy of the source code. [I'm working from the 11 Feb 1988 clarified edition of the GPL.] The GPL brings out strong emotional responses in many people, hence the redirected follow-ups.