[Axiom-developer] Re: GCL used commercially

[Richard Fateman]

Richard Stallman wrote:
<snip>
> We have to ask, does it matter to us what they did?  Did their use of
> AKCL do anything for GCL or for the free software community?  Did
> their enhancements yield any code that improved GCL, or that we had
> the option to use in GCL?  I can't tell the answer for certain from
> the information I have, but I suspect that the answer is no.
>
> If that is so, I think there was no reason we should see value in the
> use of GCL by such companies.  It doesn't do any good for our freedom,
> it only helps them make non-free software.
 Here's the argument: It helps companies build non-free software on GCL 
which might not
ever be produced otherwise. They are motivated by profit (e.g. food, 
clothing,
shelter, Tivo...) As a result, it helps provide us a choice between
free and non-free software (I use both GIMP and Photoshop).  I count this as
increasing my freedom, though I understand your perspective.
RJF