Re: GNU licenses

[John Hasler]

mike4ty4 writes:
> Well, I can make both free and non-free software, at least I should be
> able to.

Yes, of course you can.

> Which raises another question: What happens if I learn something from the
> GNU software, like a "trick" or a more efficient way of programming some
> algorithm? If I use that METHOD/KNOWLEDGE even if not the ORIGINAL

US copyright law protects expression, not ideas.  Title 17 explicitly
excludes methods and concepts.  You are entirely free to use what you learn
from studying Free software.  This is in marked contrast to most EULAs,
which include such things as prohibitions on reverse engineering.

I wrote:
> Why do you want to make people give you money as a "price" for using your
> code?

mike4ty4 writes:
> Because I need the money, for one.

We need the freedom.

BTW just because you have distributed work of your authorship mixed with
someone else's GPL work under the GPL does not mean that you cannot also
distribute the portion that is entirely yours under any terms you please.
-- 
John Hasler 
john@dhh.gt.org
Dancing Horse Hill
Elmwood, WI USA