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On Mon, 2004-02-16, 22:17:43 -0500, in |
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<1076987863.15233.27.camel@localhost>, Donnie Berkholz |
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<spyderous@g.o> wrote: |
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> We won't be adding versions of XFree86 with the 1.1 license [1] to the |
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> tree, so don't be surprised when 4.3.99.903 doesn't show up with the new |
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> license. |
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> |
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> I won't elaborate on the reasons because it's been discussed quite |
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> thoroughly in other forums [2-8]. |
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> |
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> We are seeking solutions/alternatives for this issue, so you can sit |
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> back, relax and let us do the dirty work. |
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|
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This idea is bound to get a few extreme reactions. Those who insist on |
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reacting extremely may email me privately. |
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Also, I am thinking abstractly at the moment. This is unlikely |
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to present an immediate solution, but will certainly provide some |
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thought-fodder. When you play chess, do you try to see the board from |
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different angles? |
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|
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The problem is that the XFree license and the GPL are now |
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incompatible. For smooth progression of overall Linux development, one |
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of these licenses must now change. This does not necessarily imply that |
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the one which changed most recently needs to change back. So much focus |
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has been applied to the "offending" portion of the new XFree license; |
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perhaps we should lend the same critical eye to our beloved GPL. One |
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possible analogy for the situation is that the XFree license demonstrated |
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a bug in the GPL. |
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Of course, attribution is not always practical. Imagine documentation |
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for the kernel with complete attribution. While it would have shortened |
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this whole SCO business, an exhaustive list of contributors might now |
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be larger that the actual sources. Mandatory attribution requirements |
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in the GPL would be a Bad Thing(tm). |
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|
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Attribution is a fairly reasonable request for Open Source / Free |
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Software licensing. The authors just want a little recognition for their |
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efforts. Prohibited attribution requirements is also a Bad Thing(tm). |
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One solution to the issue would be inclusion in the GPL of one or |
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more optional clauses. Much in the same way that "front cover" and |
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"back cover" texts may be included in a GPLed package, one could use a |
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"GPL+attribution" license. Such a license would be compatible with the |
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new XFree license. |
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|
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-- |
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Batou: Hey, Major... You ever hear of "human rights"? |
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Kusanagi: I understand the concept, but I've never seen it in action. |
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--Ghost in the Shell |
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