Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2012 05:40:24 -0000 From: toredhiddenuser@tormail.net To: freebsd-advocacy@freebsd.org Subject: BSD license Message-ID: <1SHqI5-0000qk-02@internal.tormail.net>
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Hello everyone,
There are many people who use GPL for their projects unaware of the terms
of license. We can observe that most "new technologies" and protocols are
licensed under BSD-license.
As you are already subscribed to the mailing list, you probably have much
education of licenses and may be aware of dreadful deeds of GNU * License.
The main problem is "Viral" copyleft nature. Anything that even LINKS to
the GPL'd files SHOULD BE under GPL, as you may probably know.
LGPL is viral too. MPL, on the other hand, didn't catch much attention,
but if you imply the protection of source code by means of copyleft, hope
it's the best way around: Less restrictions, but provides copyleft nature.
Apparently, new developers who are unaware of copyrights, release their
source into GPL.
The new developer communities have an inclined trend towards GPL like:
"The projects we see are GPL'd. Why don't we use that license?"
Some companies, (probably the worst) use the GPL to force an "addiction"
and to force a need of dual-licensing. ****** and *** ************
(removed because of problem) use this license for such purpose. Doesn't it
seem like some sort of Blackmail?
BSD people should start a project to request some near-mature projects to
beta-projects to be licensed under BSD/MIT style license, or, at least MPL
(better than GPL, anyhow).
(Is the name BSDActivists and BSDActivism) nice?
There have been many proposals by some people, you can observe:
These proposals were collected (probably) anonymously, for privacy of the
doers. These attracted attention. Summary:
Audacity: Dominic Mazoni (lead developer), Re-licensing request failed
(needs $);
Matt Brubeck: failed (but affirmative, says he have released
other code under MIT license, but doesn't apparently have right
to do relicensing.)
Removing OpenAL from SFML: Failed, they say there is no "better one"
PAQ compression, Matt Mahoney: New compression method, ZPAQ is Public Domain.
CppCMS: needs $ to do so
Wikipedia: FAILED, for a reasonable reason
EFF HTTPS Everywhere / Vidalia / TorButton : IN PROGRESS
Request for Kaos.To to remove Privoxy and to include Polipo: NO RESPONSE YET
BSD developers should start an activism to promote the BSD license and to
make re-licensing request to developers. All BSD promoters should take
notice on this. Don't be afraid if this is posted on multiple BSD mailing
lists, like OpenBSD's or NetBSD's, because, it's probably the time to
unite all the BSD people.
Is anyone interested?
Thank you for your patient reading.
Sorry for the last e-mail which was somewhat so-rant-like: Thanks to Eitan
Adler for pointing out.
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