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Re: Netscape goes GPL.



> On Sat, 24 Jan 1998, Alexander Indenbaum wrote: 
> 
> > First of all free source does not meen only GPL
> > In the same way as Free Unix does not meen  only Linux.
> 
> read the PR again, I think they state there pretty clear that it's going
> to be GPL.
> 
> I find it smart, it means that Microsoft can't steal their sources to
> incorporate in IE...
> 

It does _not_ say GPL.  Read it very carefully.  It says:

>The company will handle free source distribution with a license
>that allows source code modification and redistribution and provides
>for free availability of source code versions, building on the
>heritage of the GNU Public License (GPL), familiar to developers
>on the Net.

I would be suprised if they used the GPL as is.  It is also true
that the freely available source part of this announcement is
nothing more than hype until it is done.  "building on the heritage"
could mean allowing somewhat similar things yet "building" a _new_
licence.

There are also going to be some components that will almost certainly end
up being stripped out due to licencing issues.  That is, of course, hard
to tell right now because who knows what 5.0 will be.  It will probably
have substantial changes.



> --
> Ira Abramov    <ira(a)scso.com>     whois: IA58
> ** Linux is like a Vorlon.  It is incredibly powerful, gives terse,
> cryptic answers and has a lot of things going on in the background.
> 
> 
> 
> 

  Alexander Indenbaum
  baum@actcom.co.il