What happen if... (related GPL & src)

[Robert Dewar]

hgbasm wrote:

> But I have taked fear now watching that sixth point, and sure if GPL can 
> claim that if I read your source code or mesa code, and I do some 
> myself, sure I will NEVER read your code.

Don't worry, copyright does not protect ideas, it just stops you from
copying the code
> 
> I see now the diference from a book that really dosent restrict on how 
> to use any derivate work (because you acquire the knowledge from the 
> text) and then a derivation (with you own paths, imagination and mind) 
> take the place for apply in any that you whant.

Software is just the same, copyright stops you copying a book, and
the same prevention applies to software. So feel free to read the
GCC code and borrow its ideas freely.
> 
> wonderfull of you people when your acquisition of knowledge, 
> imagination, freedom of imagination and speech where not targeted be 
> patents, Licenses and pheraphs others things that will come later.

Patents are quite another matter (and definitely far off topic!)
But you don't have to worry about patents either when reading the
gcc code (or at least not much, no one can fully defend against the
more egregious effects of patents -- after all if you thought up an
idea yourself, you could still be running afoul of patents, but you
can never accidentally violate a copyright by independent creation).