RE: [gentoo-user] 2 to 3??

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. [mailto:bss03@××××××××××.net]
> Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 9:42 AM
> To: gentoo-user@l.g.o
> Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] 2 to 3??

>
> If you don't like the GPLv3, you probably didn't
> *really* like the GPLv2 and might be more interested
> in licensing anything you contribute under something
> like MIT/X11/BSD.
>
> Those licenses allow others to take your code, cripple
> it, and sell it to you (perhaps even on a device) for
> $100.  Oh, and offer you an "upgrade" to (_the same device_
> running) your original code (which still has a few bugs, you
> might want a support contract) for $10000.
>

I can't agree with your statements here.  Unless you have
no understanding of copyright law, you should realize that
YOUR code cannot be crippled regardless of the license that
you put it under.

The code that YOU write and release under an Open Source or
Free Software license will still be available under that 
license even after someone else uses it in a project of their own.

If you use a license that allows for relicensing or closing
of the code and someone does so, then it only effects THEIR
Version of the code.  Yours is still intact, and unharmed.

The MIT/BSD/etc licenses have the advantage that a person
can if they so desire CHOOSE whether or not they wish to
make THEIR code and modifications available.  This is a choice.

Many of us WILL release our own code even under those terms,
but it is a choice to do so.  I am not saying that the idea
of GPL is wrong.  Different developers have different desires
for their code.  I am simply saying that the Open Source route
is just as valid as the Free Software route.  

As for selling it back to you.  It is up to every person to
take measures to educate themselves on their purchases.  It
is the responsibility of the vendor, license or no license 
to make sure that the information is available for the
customer to make an educated decision.

As long as both hold up their part of the deal, things
go well.  Both customers and merchants are just as bad
about not doing their part though.  Merchants sometimes
lie about their products, or simply with hold the truth 
(which is just as bad).  Customers often buy things on
Impulse with no real clue what they are buying.  If one
party to the transaction is taking measures to hold up
their side of this implied bargain, then they should be
able to expect the other side to as well.  Failure to do
so often times ends up in the faithful party getting
screwed.  This happens to venders as well as customers.
I will admit however, that in today's economy, it is often
the vender who has the upper hand.

Beyond that, always thinking in terms of worst case
scenerios may be good in war time, but otherwise it
will just give you ulcers.  ^_^  So, like, pick your
favorite license, study what you buy before you buy,
and relax a bit. ^_^


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