Subj : Re: GNU Public Licences Revisited (again)
To   : comp.programming
From : Rob Thorpe
Date : Thu Sep 22 2005 09:22 am

Randy Howard wrote:
> Rob Thorpe wrote
> >> Not "distribute", **create**.  Copyright is about protecting the creator
> >> of a work from others freely benefiting for their efforts.
> >
> > Yes, but it doesn't matter very much that I own the copyright on my
> > shopping list.  Copyright only becomes important once something is
> > distributed.
>
> Point?  If I write software, but never distribute it, then you
> don't even have an opportunity to steal it, unless you break in,
> either electronically or physically.  If you choose the latter,
> you're likely to get shot, s-e-v-e-r-a-l times.
>
> If I do distribute it, then if you do not obtain it through one
> of the methods I allow, then we have a problem.

Just to be clear, so I don't get shot or my bank account hacked ;) ...

If your software is available only as binary, or comes with license
agreements preventing distribution then I won't buy it or accept it
anyway.  I have not intention to accept agreements and then break them.

.