[Clipart] RE: Clipart Digest, Vol 2, Issue 18

[Sigmascape1 at cs.com]

>Message: 5
>Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2004 14:19:01 -0400
>From: cws456456 at aol.com
>Subject: [Clipart] [OT] PD and Software
>To: clipart at freedesktop.org
>Message-ID: <68222666.3C4FDA8F.02FA79D3 at aol.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
>Kinda off-topic, kinda not...
>
>We're getting into a lot of dicussions about Public Domain and various liscences through which art could be released.  Well I have a question.  Can Software be released to the Public Domain?
>
>If so, wouldn't that be the most "free" and "open" way to release it?
>
>I think that woudl clear up a lot of the GPL, LGPL, BSD, QRS, TUV, WTH, CWS, BOB etc etc ad nuseum...  debates.
>
>Just let evrybody have it.  Absolutely no strings attached.   No requirements to include the source code.  No "backwards-compatiblity" clauses.  No "right of honor" mess.
>
>Just pure and simple. No one could say that it is "non-free".   No one could ever call it closed.
>
>Wouldn't that be great?
>
>-Chad Smith
>
The Public Domain is the ultimate way for any digital content, including software, to be released. For software, the GPL is solid, and has a community-oriented development concept... you change or improve the existing 'software,' you give the community the changes. If the same software were public domain, no one is asking you (or forcing you) to release the code with the changes. 

Mitch Featherston