[Freegis-list] Shapefile Viewer & Attribute Editor

[Bernhard Reiter]

On Mon, May 13, 2002 at 07:57:40AM +0200, Benoit Véler wrote:
> >It's not Free Software.
> >Please note that this list is not the right place to advertise
> >proprietory software like JShape.
> 
>         In effect, there is a point to lighten here : Jshape is not payant 
> (free) until its version 2 , but it's not indicated if this same version is 
> as well public domain (free). Is it intentional ?...

So answer that I guess I should explain some terms:

Free Software can be detected if you use the four freedoms as criteria:

  Freedom 1: Run the program, for any purpose
  Freedom 2: Study how the program works, and adapt it to
             your needs Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
  Freedom 3: To redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor 
  Freedom 4: To improve the program, and release your improvements
             to the public, so that the whole community benefits. 
             Access to the source code is a precondition for this. 

Being in the "public domain" (PD) is one specific possibility for
a software to be Free Software. Most Free Software is not in the PD.

The earlier JShape version might be available with a no cost
license, but as long as nobody sees the source and a license that
grants the four freedoms, we will all have to assume that it is
proprietory software.


-- 
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