[GNUz] Another interesting twist ...

[Jim Cheetham]

Here's another interesting twist on licensing and naming ...

gnuplot is a mathematical graphing program - and very good too.

 > GNG: Gnuplot's Not GNU
 > While its name may imply otherwise, gnuplot is not covered by the GPL.
 > For the legally curious, gnuplot FAQ #1.7 says: "Gnuplot is freeware
 > in the sense that you don't have to pay for it. However, it is not
 > freeware in the sense that you would be allowed to distribute a
 > modified version of your gnuplot freely. Please read and accept the
 > Copyright file in your distribution."

It also doesn't seem to appear in the FSF/UNESCO Free Software Directory 
at http://www.gnu.org/directory/. However, it is packaged in 
Debian/main, and therefore 'vrms' doesn't object to it.

So, "what's in a name"? If GNU were a trademark, it would probably be 
diluted by accepting this usage.

-jim