Subj : Re: GNU Public Licences Revisited (again) To : comp.programming From : Chris Sonnack Date : Fri Aug 26 2005 03:36 pm Rob Thorpe writes: >> I VERY much doubt that the laws that have evolved to protect the >> efforts of the author/musicial/programmer/architect will ever be >> viewed as immoral. > > [...] > > The situations are in fact completely different. There is no > concept of source and object code for example in any of those > other occupations. An author, musician or architect can't hide > how their creations actually work,... I'm not sure that's true. Musicians may have synth patches that are private and musical or audio techniques that are private. Much of what goes on in the studio is hidden from the public and DOES impact the final product. I have no doubt that most creative professions have tricks of the trade that are hidden from the outside. > The other professions are also not incremental. I think I could, > with enough time to understand the problem, add a useful feature to any > piece of software in existance. I think most programmers could. I > doubt though that I could improve on Chapter 4 of "The Great Gatsby", > "Mr Tambourine Man" or King's College Chapel, and I doubt anyone else > could. "Improvement" of an artistic work is a matter of taste. Some might think Mona looks better without the smirk. A LOT of music could stand some improvement, as could some architecture. More to the point, if you were a musician, architect, author, painter, you'd probably be able to say, "I think I could, with enough time to understand the problem, add a useful feature to any in existence." You say that about software *because* you are a programmer. > Lastly, ask users of software whether they think the laws that > protect it are correct. Okay. "Hey, Self--you use software don't you?" "Why, yes, as a matter of fact, I've been using software for, oh, I'd say 30 years or so. Why do you ask?" "Well, just curious, do you think the laws that protect software are correct?" "Correct? You mean, like, properly spelled?" "No, you know, right, justified, moral. That sorta thing." "Oh. Well, yeah, sure. They're protecting the work of those that made it, aren't they? Seems like a Good Thing to me." "Okay, thanks, just checking." So far the response has been 100% unanimous. :-| > Many will tell you that they protect one guy, and his name's Bill. Yes, I'm well aware of the reflexive response to Micosoft's success. -- |_ CJSonnack _____________| How's my programming? | |_ http://www.Sonnack.com/ ___________________| Call: 1-800-DEV-NULL | |_____________________________________________|_______________________| .