This is completely unrelated to the FSF, but it's even more jaw-dropping:

  The SQLite library (one of the most popular SQL database libraries) is
distributed under "public domain". In other words, it's "freer than free".

  Of course not all jurisdictions in the world recognize "public domain"
as a valid usage license nor the right of an author to publish something
with no copyright. For these cases the SQLite project offers an actual
usage license.

  The catch? If you want it, you'll have to pay the modest price of 1000
US dollars.

  I can't even begin to comprehend the logic behind this. Basically they
are saying: "If your country does not recognize public domain as a valid
software license, then you'll have to pay us $1000 if you want to use our
software. If your country does recognize it, then you can use it in any
way you want for whatever purpose you want at no cost whatsoever."

  I just can't understand the logic. If they want to offer an actual
copyright license for those who live in a country which doesn't recognize
PD as a valid one, then why not just offer something like the MIT license
or whatever, which is almost equivalent to PD? Instead, you have to pay
them 1000 dollars for a license.

  I'm speechless, really. Is this some kind of war against countries which
don't recognize PD?

http://www.hwaci.com/cgi-bin/license-step1

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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