[GNUz] Another interesting twist ...

[Martin Bähr]

On Wed, Jul 28, 2004 at 12:24:28PM +1200, Jim Cheetham wrote:
> > GNG: Gnuplot's Not GNU
> > 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 is packaged in 
> Debian/main, and therefore 'vrms' doesn't object to it.

because it is free enough.

 * Permission to distribute binaries produced by compiling modified
 * sources is granted, provided you
 *   1. distribute the corresponding source modifications from the
 *    released version in the form of a patch file along with the
 *    binaries,
 *   2. add special version identification to distinguish your version
 *    in addition to the base release version number,
 *   3. provide your name and address as the primary contact for the
 *    support of your modified version, and
 *   4. retain our contact information in regard to use of the base
 *    software.
 * Permission to distribute the released version of the source code along
 * with corresponding source modifications in the form of a patch file is
 * granted with same provisions 2 through 4 for binary distributions.

debian distributes original source along with patches for all packages
anyways. it adds a debian version in the package name (and may do so in
the app too (mozilla asks for this as well)). sees itself as the primary
contact and has a poiunter to upstream for all packages too.

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

i agree, gnuplot as a name is quite missleading.

greetings, martin.
-- 
looking for a job doing pike programming, sTeam/caudium/pike/roxen training,
sTeam/caudium/roxen and/or unix system administration anywhere in the world.
--
pike programmer   travelling and working in europe            open-steam.org
unix system-      bahai.or.at                       iaeste.(tuwien.ac|or).at
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Martin Bähr       http://www.iaeste.or.at/~mbaehr/