From: tomw AT tsys DOT demon DOT co DOT uk (Tom Wheeley)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject: Re: ANNOUNCE: PLUSH 3D V1.1
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 97 23:11:22 GMT
Organization: Adventures and Diving
Message-ID: <860713882snz@tsys.demon.co.uk>
References: <199704082226 DOT IAA12131 AT solwarra DOT gbrmpa DOT gov DOT au> <334C3940 DOT 3560 AT total DOT net> <5ija12$45l AT news DOT interlog DOT com>
Reply-To: tw104 AT york DOT ac DOT uk
Lines: 45
To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
DJ-Gateway: from newsgroup comp.os.msdos.djgpp

In article <5ija12$45l AT news DOT interlog DOT com>
           gautam AT interlog DOT com "Gautam N. Lad" writes:

> Hi,
> [SNIP]
> >I read it as a statement, also.  But I am curious.  If it is freeware
> >then why has the author chosen not to release source code.  Perhaps,
> >he/she can explain?
> 
> Well, here's what I've to say.  Correct me if I'm wrong.
> 
> Freeware software is copyrighted by the author, and the author does not 
> necessarily have to release the source code.
> 
> Public Domain on the other hand, is not copyrighted, thus, you're allowed to 
> use the source/program in commercial use or sell the software.

Free software is put under a license similar to the GPL (well, generally
under the GPL) and must be released with source.  That source may not be used
in a commercial product.

AFAIK, the DJGPP compiler (gcc) is free, whereas the DJGPP libc is freeware,
as it may be used in commercial software.  (f.e. Quake).  This is why you
there exists the free iostream library for DJGPP which can be used instead
of the GNU c++ libraries.

> >I think that it would be a nice trend when releasing
> >not-for-profit-software to release source code with it.
> 
> I don't think so.  Why would the author want to release the code, if he/she's 
> work so hard on it?  I think it's completely up to the author!

So that other people can extend, enhance and bugfix the code?  Do you think
Linux would have got where it is if it was hoarded by Linus.

> >FYI: This is not a flame/condemnation/criticism.
> I know.  I'm just trying to stop this thread...  He He!

anyway, it is (of course) up to the author as to what license the program
is placed under, assuming they did not use any GPL'd source.

I'm sure I will be corrected if I'm wrong in the above :)
-- 
:sb)