Still no new license -- but draft text available

[John W. Stevens]

Grant Griffin wrote:
> 
> QuoteMstr wrote:
> >
> > In article <39947690.5977 at seebelow.org>, Grant Griffin wrote:
> > >I'm not really "mad" (except in the "Mad Hatter" sense ;-), but the
> > >problem is that the cost of the ticket is unreasonably high.  Much of
> > >what I do is embedded software development.  In case you don't know,
> > >"embedded software" is stuff inside little black boxes that the user
> > >never really sees, and may not even know exists--you know, like the
> > >stuff that makes your toaster burn the toast--or makes the next Kleenex
> > >pop out of the box.  To provide users of embedded software with the
> > >source code is unreasonably expensive, relative to the economics of the
> > >applications.  Besides, the users don't really care anyway.  (Then
> > >again, I guess the source code for a VCR might finally offer some
> > >talented hacker a way to figure out how to program it.  ;-)
> >
> > Seriously, how much trouble is it to put up a web site with the source
> > available for download? It's not, especially for a company that will
> > supposedly manufacture and distribute thousands of units of this
> > appliance.
> 
> Sure, that part's easy--if you're doing it yourself.  But if you work
> for The Big Corporation, just _try_ to get that done.  Oh, and try to
> convince the corporate lawyers that the legal risk (as they see it) of
> using GPL software is worth the benefit.  And try to convince your
> management that it's worth fighting the corporate lawyers.

Ok . . . done.  Next?

> Even in a saner environment, with anything other than a truly free
> (BSDish) license, one quickly realizes that is is much cheaper/easier to
> write it oneself than to clear all the hurdles that stem from the GPL.
> I'm not speaking of "what should be", but of "what is".
> 
> (gpl-idealists-have-evidently-never-worked-at-The-Big-Corporation)
>    -ly y'rs,

Hmmm.  I guess HP isn't a Big Corporation, then.  What *would* you call
us?

Reality bites . . .

-- 

If I spoke for HP --- there probably wouldn't BE an HP!

John Stevens
jstevens at basho.fc.hp.com