Yes, same functionality. I only meant the implementation, the code. Let's take an example: The APL and APL-related languages. IBM and some other old companie

Yes, same functionality. I only meant the implementation, the code. Let's take an example: The APL and APL-related languages. IBM and some other old companies have been licensing these "languages" for many years. But what are people really licensing? Not the language. If we agree that languages are not protectatble, then no one needs permission to use a language. (What the licensee is really paying for is the use of an interpreter and perhaps support/consulting.) But how many programmers understand this distinction?