[WEB4LIB] Re: how to get it all done

[Alnisa Allgood]

Okay, my last post on the topic. Just because software isn't open source, doesn't make it proprietary. It's not an either or option, but a continuum.  Richard Stallman, of GNU fame, defines proprietary software as...

"Proprietary software is a kind of software where end-users do not have the freedom to control what it does and study or edit the source code."

Users have the freedom to study, and edit the source code of EE. What they don't have is the right to redistribute it and make a profit from pMachine's work. Of course they can create modules and sell those if they like.

EE doesn't meet the 10 criteria of open source as defined by http://www.opensource.org; but it doesn't meet the traditional and historical definition of proprietary either. Just as MySQL offers a  dual commercial license, and an open source license, and its often debated about whether MySQL should be considered open-source. EE doesn't claim open source creed, but offers a hybrid of open code and access while limiting redistribution. As does a number of other software vendors.

-----Original Message-----
From: Joshua Ferraro <jmf at liblime.com>
Sent: Fri, 22 April 2005 12:06:48
To: Multiple recipients of list <web4lib at webjunction.org>
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Re: how to get it all done

Yes, reading is fundamental.  EE IS proprietary software (strictly
speaking).  The terms of use clarify it nicely:

> may not resell, redistribute or transfer the modified or derivative 
> version without prior written consent from pMachine Inc. Components 
> from ExpressionEngine Software may not be extracted and used in other 
> programs without prior written consent from pMachine Inc."

If something were to happen to pMachine, your local software folks may
be able to continue supporting it, but you would not be able to
redistribute it in any way. The project as a whole, then, would 
die--unless pMachine redistributed it with a different license.

I apologize if my tone wasn't friendly earlier; my goal was to
point out what I see as a key difference between a product like
EE, and Mambo. It may not be an important distinction for everyone,
but it's the core principle that I'm building my business around, so
I'm eager to defend it.

Joshua
 
On Fri, Apr 22, 2005 at 11:29:58AM -0500, Alnisa Allgood wrote:
> At 8:39 AM -0700 4/22/05, Joshua Ferraro wrote:
> >And regardless of whether a system is built on open source tools, it's
> >proprietary when the code is closed. EE may be a great product, but
> >what will happen to it if pMachine decides not to continue development
> >on it? If it was open source, it's users could simply find another
> >software team to continue.
> >
> 
> Reading is fundamental.  As I said, EE isn't proprietary software 
> (strictly speaking). The code is open and accessible, it's just not 
> developed as an open source project.  Expression Engine is 
> commercial, just as Red Hat  Linux and MySQL are commercial. There's 
> a difference.  The terms of its software modification are...
> 
> Software Modification
> You may alter, modify, or extend the software for your own use, or 
> commission a third-party to perform modifications for you, but you 
> may not resell, redistribute or transfer the modified or derivative 
> version without prior written consent from pMachine Inc. Components 
> from ExpressionEngine Software may not be extracted and used in other 
> programs without prior written consent from pMachine Inc.
> 
> If something were to happen to the pMachine staff, there are numerous 
> people who could continue development and or modification of the 
> system; if an organization so wanted to.  As I said, don't equate 
> open source with free; but also acknowledge that the playground 
> includes far more options than just open source vs proprietary 
> software.
> 
> Alnisa
> 

-- 
Joshua Ferraro               VENDOR SERVICES FOR OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE
CEO, LIBLIME                migration, training, maintenance, support
jmf at liblime.com          Koha ILS, Mambo Intranet, DiscrimiNet Filter
1(740)707-7654               TRY OUR FULL DEMOS AT http://liblime.com