On 01 Jul 2007 09:38:32 +0300, Nadav Har'El wrote:
>
> I am now wondering whether I should switch to GPL v3 in free software that
> I am writing, so I am looking for comparisons of the GPL v3 to the well-
> known (and 15 years old) GPL v2.
The GPL goal (any version): defend the program to stay free forever, so
that its users always receive 4 basic software freedoms no matter what.
The short summary: just like GPL v2 in 1991 closed all v1 holes known
to the time, GPL v3 closes all currently known holes in v2 that allow to
legally take away software freedoms from users of initially free program.
Whether you should upgrade to a version with no known holes (v3 or later)
or stay with known holes (v2 or later), it's up to you. Largest holes
that v3 closes:
* patent agreements like Novell-Microsoft targetted to defend Novell
users against Microsoft patent claims at expense of other users of
the same program will be impossible
* devices that _artificially_ disallow modifying the GPL source (thus
revoking the software freedom number 2 from the users) using secret
keys or such will be impossible
Additional benefits of v3 over v2:
* compatible with ASL 2.0, so you may borrow the code from Apache
* there is an option to use Affero GPL to extend the copyleft concept
to the network applications, if this is what you want
* more clarifications, better international law language
Partial stats on conversion to GPLv3:
http://gpl3.palamida.com:8080/
Humor:
http://www.gplv4.org/
Regards,
Mikhael.
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