On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 12:25:21 -0500 Les Mikesell <lesmikesell@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > And how does that relate to this situation? Assume you have a > proprietary library that communicates with some particular > device. Perhaps patented technology is involved so there is no > way to legally duplicate the functionality. You do some work > to make a useful GPL program use that library to work with your > device. You'd like to share that work with others who also > have the same device and library. The GPL restricts you from > legally doing so. Hah! What a confused piece of logic that is. The thing that is really restricting you is the patented priprietary library! Yes the GPL restricts you from stealing the work of others; it's a Good Thing. Why the hell should a technology that has all the proprietary/patent problems you describe above get the benefit of working with any free software? That's the point of the GPL, either you give back, your you don't get to play. If you're locked into some proprietary POS that RESTRICTS YOU then that's your problem, not the problem of the GPL. The GPL is meant to foster the relationship between people who participate in open software. It's working quite well at doing just that. Sean
