On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 2:28 PM, Olin Lathrop wrote: > Mark Rages wrote: >> There are no restrictions on running the software under the GPL. > > That may be true, but not relevant since we're talking about source code > which you can't run anyway. Building the source and then running it is only > one of many things you might want to do with source code. The GPL is only concerned with copying. It doesn't address how you use the software once you have it (compiling it, linking it against other software, etc.) It only addresses distribution. > > My original point was that much software that is generally considered "open > source" has restrictions on what you can do with it. If software under the > GPL is "open source", then you have to allow that my USBProg software is > also open source. > While your software is open source in the sense that the source code is available for reading, it does not meet the Open Source Initiative's definition: (http://www.opensource.org/docs/osd) nor does it embody the four freedoms of the FSF. (http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html). Therefore is not "open source" in the accepted usage of the term. Regards, Mark markrages@gmail -- Mark Rages, Engineer Midwest Telecine LLC markrages@midwesttelecine.com -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist