Re: [LUG] Hello, Introduction

[Tony Atkin <tone_pl@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thursday 23 Sep 2004 20:53, Neil Williams wrote:
> On Thu, Sep 23, 2004 at 02:02:48PM +0100, Adrian Midgley wrote:
> > On Thursday 23 September 2004 08:55, Simon Avery wrote:
> > > Is it safe to ask why you dislike open source? As a concept or merely
> > > as a method of development?
> >
> > Religious dispute.
>
> It shouldn't be trivialised in that manner, nor should it be compared to
> something that starts a war!
>
> :-)
>
> The difference between Open Source and Free Software is PRACTICAL - the
> fundamental difference is inherently simple:
>
> Who controls the future of your work?
>
> Under Free Software, if you distribute someone else's work you are
> required to maintain the freedoms of all users of that work, whether or
> not you modify the code.
>
> Under Open Source, if you distribute someone else's work, you can
> prevent any user ever seeing the code, including any modifications.
>
> This is why there is Open Source code in Microsoft Windows that has been
> modified but the source code is not available - nor is there any need
> for Microsoft to do so.

I think it would be more accurate to say that Open Source encompasses a wider 
spectrum of licensing conditions than Free Software.  The crucial difference 
seems to be that while what we call "Free Software", e.g. GPL,  mandates that 
derivative works maintain the same license as the original, The Open Source 
Definition merely states that this must be allowed.  So Open Source compliant 
licenses may also allow closed source derivatives.

Tony


--
The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG
Mail majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe list" in the
message body to unsubscribe.