On Mon, Apr 8, 2013 at 2:50 AM, Richard Gaskin <ambassa...@fourthworld.com>wrote:
> > If Apple has recently changed their policies so they no longer have the > distribution limits that had made it incompatible with the GPL, that would > be welcome news. But I wasn't able to turn up any info suggesting that, so > the items in the Wikipedia article you linked to seem to be > well-intentioned people who simply don't follow the news from the FSF, and > Apple staff who apparently have a tough time keeping up with the > ever-changing and inconsistently-applied rules there. > > Richard, Of all the contributors on this List I consider your comments the most reasoned, level headed and open minded, but I must have missed something. I read your links 1 and 3, cause I'm and odd sort of guy, and all I concluded from it was that it was GPL participants (VLC coders in one case) that requested Apple remove certain GPL software, and Apple complied because it was cheaper and easier than going to court over it. As you say, Apples inconsistently-applied rules, to me do NOT seem to specifically target rejection of GPL software. As far as I can tell LiveCode Community will allow me to write an iOS app and as long as it includes stick figures and fart noises it is likely to be approved by the App Store reviewers. For my part, in accordance with the GPL I would include a link where anyone could download the 'source' stack for their own modification. At which point, as long as I, Runrev, or someone from this List does not complain to Apple, then it's likely to live a long and highly ignored life at the App Store. As for the Apple restriction that the FSF are so concerned about, it seems to be splitting hairs and shooting oneself in the foot. Again, if I follow the GPL, and I link to the source stack, then that means anyone can download and play with as many copies as they wish. Just because they don't come as compiled installed apps seems to be a very very fine point. There are plenty of Source Forge projects out there that don't have an OS X complied version available, the only option is source code and compile it yourself. If I was splitting hairs I'd say the GPL doesn't say 'compiled' program, but just program. Apple's own restriction doesn't prevent anyone from obtaining the source code and working with it unrestricted to their hearts content .The only people the Apple restriction is going to effect is end users who need a compiled app and have no clue about programming and are never going to contribute to a FSF project in their life. Is that really detrimental to the FSF cause? Obviously from the articles, some GPL software contributors think so. _______________________________________________ use-livecode mailing list use-livecode@lists.runrev.com Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences: http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-livecode
