Re: GPL (was new plugin- 3D and 2D particle analyzer released)

Posted by dscho on
URL: http://imagej.273.s1.nabble.com/Thresholding-from-Java-tp3688545p3688553.html

Hi Bob,

On Mon, 19 Apr 2010, Robert Dougherty wrote:

> I'm not sure what the scientific community is, but I sometimes sell
> products derived from ImageJ and its parts.

For many people I know, the scientific community is considered to consist
of people working in academia, i.e. of people who get their money through
grants, in return for a promise to do research.

> This is only possible because it is not constrained by a restrictive
> license.  Anything GLP can never be included in product I make, so it
> might as well not exist as far as I'm concerned.  This is not my idea of
> a good fit.

I am sorry if you feel that way. I certainly would want you to be able to
make money off of ImageJ.

On the other hand, I was exposed to people who feel very strongly in favor
of the GPL, some just because their code (before they made sure to publish
all their code as GPL) was used by others in commercial products, and they
never saw even so much as a cent or more acknowledgement than their name
mentioned in an obscure menu options.

The worst such story I know of: the author was not even aware that his
code was used in a commercial product before stumbling over his name in a
product he had to pay for.

So yes, there are people who like the GPL, and there are people who do not
like it. In my opinion, both parties have a point, and it would be the
wisest to just accept each others' views and go on with life.

Ciao,
Johannes