Re: Building An Apple ][ Software Archive

[Roy and/or Janet Miller <millers@inetnebr.com>]

Paul Guertin wrote:

> "Arkain" <rwking@usa.nospam.net> wrote:
>
> > The copyright called GPL goes 1 step further [...]
> > The GPL enforces public domain status.
>
> These are mutually exclusive. Something cannot be under copyright
> and in the public domain at the same time. As GPLed software is
> under copyright, it is not in the public domain.
>
> Unlike the word "freeware", the terms "copyright" and "public domain"
> have a precise legal meaning. Don't use them loosely.

Thank you Paul. An important point.

So then, the term "freeware" if it  is going to have any real meaning
must be distinguished from "public domain". If by freeware, all that is
meant is that it is software that doesn't cost you anything, then we need
*another* term to distinguish "public domain freeware" from "copyrighted
freeware." But, as others have shown, that's what "freeware" was supposed
to do, distinguish between public domain on one hand, and copyrighted
software that isn't commercial, and isn't shareware on the other hand.

Roy

>
>
> Paul Guertin
> pg@sff.net