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> This isn't the point. We aren't saying that they automated kernel |
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> building utility used by Gentoo is and can only be genkernel. We are |
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> saying that as long as genkernel is around we want to be able to make |
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> sure we have some control of its (and it's derivative works) usage and |
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> license. Anyone is free to come up with a bigger better badder |
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> portage/genkernel/whathaveyou (and we are free to use it) so long as it |
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> doesn't contain derivative works or if it does that it follows the |
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> letter of the appropriate license. |
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|
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(I'm using genkernel as an example not because I have any articualr |
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feelings about it) |
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Oh and one other important distinction. As I forgot to address the |
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question of "Why should the genkernel developers need to sign this |
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agreement if some future wizbang genkernel replacement developed on |
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berlios infra doesn't have to?" |
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|
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Well I'm not saying that the genkernel devs have to because genkernel is |
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central to what is Gentoo. I'm saying they have to because genkernel was |
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developed as a Gentoo project and is entirely hosted on Gentoo infra. |
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They should feel perfectly welcome to remove genkernel's official |
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project status. Heck I'd even be willing to let them keep their code on |
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Gentoo's infra (not that that would be our call in the slightest, that |
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would entirely be up to infra). But as long as it is a Gentoo project |
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the foundation has to be able to protect the project's interests. |
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That is something else that is being missed here. The purpose of this |
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document is to protect the interests of the authors of the code. There |
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is and has never been anything insidious about it. Also the wording of |
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the agreement doesn't allow us to do anything insidious. The worst that |
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we could do would be to pursue a legal action against a violator without |
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the consent of (or even against the will of) the original works author. |
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The problem there in is that copyright protection is an all or nothing |
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game. You don't protect it once and it is meaningless. |
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--Dan |
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-- |
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