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IP: Re: FreeBSD vs. Linux (clearing up some common misconceptions)
From: David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 12:58:57 -0400
Sender: jamie () genoa essential org Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 12:41:36 -0400 From: James Love <love () cptech org> Organization: http://www.cptech.org X-Accept-Language: en To: "Farber, David" <farber () cis upenn edu> Subject: Re: IP: FreeBSD vs. Linux (clearing up some common misconceptions) While there are no doubt some important technical differences between FreeBSD and Linux, and more important distinctions for most users that the different licensing regimes. The Berkeley license used by FreeBSD offers users the freedom to take code and extend it in proprietary products. The GNU Public License (GPL) is designed to prevent this. There are many "social, political and economic agendas" among users and contributors to the codes, and also some practical concerns. Whether one thinks proprietary extensions of free software are good or bad depends not only on political and cultural agendas, but on practical issues and commercial interests as well. One of the reasons that the GPL is having unexpected acceptance among corporate interests is that it protects firms from anticompetitive acts by rivals. The fact that no one will own the platform is an incentive for some investors in the development effort, and a disincentive for others. I think it is good that both FreeBSD and Linux continue to improve. It should also be noted that FreeBSD and Linux distributions both rely greatly upon programs protected under a wide variety of licensing schemes, including the Berkeley and GPL approaches. Jamie -- James Love, Director, Consumer Project on Technology I can be reached at love () cptech org, by telephone 202.387.8030, by fax at 202.234.5176. CPT web page is http://www.cptech.org
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- IP: Re: FreeBSD vs. Linux (clearing up some common misconceptions) David Farber (Sep 02)