> Ok. I haven't expressed myself well. The question still stands (now
> slightly rephrased): Using this meaning of "viral quality", is there
> (successful, in actual use) software that doesn't have it? 

There is lots of software that is succesfull but not so dominant as to
create a de-facto lock-in. Many compilers, fall into this category, just
to name something. Adobe PDF is very dominant, but not closed enough to
create lock-in (there are alternatives, both for the reader and the
writer). In the OSS department there is everything that is BSD-licensed.

> You say that GPL software has it, and that Windows software 
> has it. I think
> that covers probably 80% of existing software (just a rough guess).
> Extending the argument, any software designed to run on Linux 
> also has the
> same "viral quality" (of requiring GPL software to run it, in 
> this case).

I would argue with that: although running software that requires Linux
indeed requires Linux I would only say it has viral/contaminating
properties when it both
- locks you in in the sense that after some time you have almost no
alternative
- forces you into something you otherwise would not do (release your own
sources, pay $$$, etc)

> So what software doesn't have that "viral quality" you are 
> talking about? 

Its of course not a black-and-white issue. I would say for instnace that
without star office the uSoft office package (especially Word) would
have this quality. With Star Office this is history (you are no longer
locked in). The Apache server does not have this quality, because it
does not force you into any actions (you are not required to release
your HTML pages under any license).

Again, don't take me wrong: the fact that I call something
viral/contaminating is not a moral/ethical/value attribution. It is just
that in my observation things have this property to a more or less
effect. The dominance of Windows is (party) caused by this effect. The
fear among some software companies shows that the GPL principle (note:
not all OSS licenses!) also scores high in this category.

Wouter van Ooijen

-- -------------------------------------------
Van Ooijen Technische Informatica: www.voti.nl
consultancy, development, PICmicro products
docent Hogeschool van Utrecht: www.voti.nl/hvu
 

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