From owner-freebsd-chat@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Oct 26 03:35:34 2004 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-chat@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 958BF16A4CE for ; Tue, 26 Oct 2004 03:35:34 +0000 (GMT) Received: from gldis.ca (constans.gldis.ca [66.11.169.73]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 17A7243D2F for ; Tue, 26 Oct 2004 03:35:34 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from gldisater@gldis.ca) Received: from [127.0.0.1] (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by gldis.ca (8.12.11/8.12.11) with ESMTP id i9Q3fnN8060166; Mon, 25 Oct 2004 23:41:50 -0400 (EDT) (envelope-from gldisater@gldis.ca) From: Jeremy Faulkner To: Graham Bentley In-Reply-To: <3.0.6.32.20041025084122.007cdb50@mail.uk2.net> References: <3.0.6.32.20041025084122.007cdb50@mail.uk2.net> Content-Type: multipart/signed; micalg=pgp-sha1; protocol="application/pgp-signature"; boundary="=-N3ZxoNxXXzXKfG9inn70" Message-Id: <1098747544.48352.36.camel@ocean-deep.gldis.ca> Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Ximian Evolution 1.4.6 Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2004 23:39:04 +0000 X-Virus-Scanned: ClamAV 0.80rc4/524/Sun Oct 10 11:36:08 2004 clamav-milter version 0.80j on constans.gldis.ca X-Virus-Status: Clean cc: freebsd-chat@freebsd.org Subject: Re: GPL vs BSD Licence X-BeenThere: freebsd-chat@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: Non technical items related to the community List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 03:35:34 -0000 --=-N3ZxoNxXXzXKfG9inn70 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Moved to chat@ On Mon, 2004-10-25 at 07:41, Graham Bentley wrote: > I (mis?)interpret this as follows :- >=20 > If you use some BSD code in some project that you turn into > proprietry code you just need to include the appropriate=20 > acknowledgement statements - but you can exclude=20 > anyone from using that new code / solution. When someone releases code under the BSD license they do it in trust that others will give back changes to the code. They do not expect nor demand those changes back. Those changes are recognized to belong to their author. That author can do what they please with them, just like the original author did as he pleased with his code (released it to the community). >=20 > With the GPL you are explicitly giving away your right to do this=20 > whilst at the same time leaving a the door open for others if they=20 > want to use your code / solution. With the GPL no one trusts anyone else to release their code back to the community. It's like they're sitting in a room with pistols pointed at each others heads trying to work together, using the force of violence to keep each other honest. The GPL uses the force of law to do the same. When the author of the code releases his work under the GPL he uses the license to force the openness of any changes made to that code. I guess it can't be considered forcing a developer to release their code if they read and agreed to the license. Just like nobody forced anyone to remain in the room full of pistols. But that door isn't left open for anyone to use the code / solution, only those that are willing to sit in the room and aim the pistol at someone. If you choose to leave the room, you must also leave all of the work behind and start fresh. If you don't, all those guys with pistols hunt you down. Some people may be willing to sit in that room, while others are not. When they give, they expect to receive. They don't give for the sake of giving. The same occurs with regard to Apple's involvement with the BSDs, every now and then someone comes forward asking what Apple gave back to the community, as if Apple were required to do so. GPL is for freedom of the source code. BSD is for freedom of choice of the author. I do not value the source code's freedom over my own. --=20 Jeremy Faulkner --=-N3ZxoNxXXzXKfG9inn70 Content-Type: application/pgp-signature; name=signature.asc Content-Description: This is a digitally signed message part -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.2.6 (FreeBSD) iD8DBQBBfY6Yfb0Lle2MIEIRAvRdAKDUS/kKdYkN60R7twcyoy8t2p41WACgsljQ PoOwwe6EpAOAzAqkERU+0QM= =lck0 -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- --=-N3ZxoNxXXzXKfG9inn70--