Hello, Here an interesting commentary by a software engineer friend of mine who seems a little more knowledgeable about open source licenses than the author of the "Open Source Mania" article on LiDAR News:
http://odoepner.wordpress.com/2015/06/16/lidar-news-publishes-uninformed-gpl-rant/ The commentary is titled '“Lidar News” publishes uninformed GPL rant' and critizises the column in 8 different aspects. Here the beginning of the commentary and the first aspect: ==================================== In its “Random Points” column, the June 2015 Lidar News issue contains an opinion piece called “Open Source Mania” by Lewis Graham, a director of the board with ASPRS, the organization that defines the LAS file format. It contains many inaccuracies and unfair judgements: 1) The author underhandedly attacks Martin Isenburg’s broadly supported attempts to have theLGPL-licensed de-facto standard LASzip accepted as an Open Standard and then goes into a rant about the GPL, while lumping both licenses together as “viral”. The LGPL – not the GPL – explicitly allows the use as dynamically linked library without any licensing impact on the main program. Combining the attack on the LASzip community with a rant against GPL while ignoring the main difference between LGPL and GPL is unfair to say the least. 2) ... ==================================== Regards, Martin @rapidlasso On Mon, Jun 15, 2015 at 5:00 PM, Saber Razmjooei < [email protected]> wrote: > The guy is stuck in 90’s (there is a “retro” feature in QGIS for him J)! > > Maybe you can elaborate more on the vendor lock-in and policies/guidelines > against such practices ( > http://www.pcworld.com/article/2042943/eu-guide-helps-governments-avoid-vendor-lockin.html > ) > > If he is motivated by other things (being ESRI’s Gold partner….maybe), it > is difficult to have a rational discussion with. > > > > Regards, > > Saber > > *From:* [email protected] [mailto: > [email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Martin Isenburg > *Sent:* 15 June 2015 13:43 > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* [Qgis-developer] ASPRS LWG chair opens can of QGIS and FOSS > worms in latest column > > > > Hello folks, > > > > for years I have enjoyed reading Lewis Graham's "Random Points" column in > the LiDAR News magazine. I usually get some novel insight or come across a > thought-provoking new concept and this month's column is especially > interesting. It mashes up the ongoing "LAZ clone" conflict that asks to > keep LiDAR stored in "open formats" with the practically related but > conceptually independent "open source" software movement. > > > > The article revives Steve Ballmers “Linux is a cancer” mantra it talks > about how the GPL license is a "time-bomb" and makes Asia Air Survey - the > gold sponsor of QGIS - appear blue-eyed in their support of such a "viral > license". But it is probably best you read the entire two pages for > yourself. > > http://twitter.com/LAStools/status/610057423672471552 > > > > As Lewis' opinions are regarded highly by the LiDAR and photogrammetry > industries (myself included) and as the first few paragraphs of this > widely-circulated LiDAR magazine article are a complete distortion of my > personal motivation on "open formats" that will directly hurt my > professional reputation, I have little choice but to respond with a > correction to his column. Let me know if you have any errata on Lewis' > comments about the danger of open source licenses that you want me to > include. > > > > Regards, > > > > Martin @rapidlasso > > > > > ------------------------------ > > This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended > solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. > If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. > This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the > individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not > disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender > immediately by e-mail if you have received this e-mail by mistake and > delete this e-mail from your system. If you are not the intended recipient > you are notified that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any > action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly > prohibited. > > Whilst reasonable care has been taken to avoid virus transmission, no > responsibility for viruses is taken and it is your responsibility to carry > out such checks as you feel appropriate. > > If this email contains a quote or offer to sell products, carry out work > or perform services then our standard terms and conditions > <http://www.lutraconsulting.co.uk/downloads/Lutra%20Consulting%20Standard%20Terms%20and%20Conditions.pdf> > shall apply unless explicitly stated otherwise. > > Saber Razmjooei and Peter Wells trading as Lutra Consulting. > > >
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