On Thu, Dec 05, 2002 at 11:57:58PM -0500, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > In a message dated 12/5/2002 6:55:30 PM US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] > writes: > > > I have another GPL-related question. As I understand, authors > > (copyright holders?) may change license from GPL to other. How this actions > > is reactive? I mean: what will happen with previous and current program > > releases, which was under GPL and already widely distributed? > > My understanding of this (and I am neither a lawyer nor Richard Stallman, so > I am probably unqualified to give an opinion) is that the existing GPLled > distributions remain GPL. It's not retroactive.
That's right. If it's released under the GPL it can't be changed. But the next version might come under another license. So the author himself is not bound to the GPL, but others are. It is also possible to release one and the same software under two licenses. There is also a GPL-FAQ: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html Passage from this FAQ: I would like to release a program I wrote under the GNU GPL, but I would like to use the same code in non-free programs. To release a non-free program is always ethically tainted, but legally there is no obstacle to your doing this. If you are the copyright holder for the code, you can release it under various different non-exclusive licenses at various times. -- Tschuess Andreas ---------- list options/archives/etc.: http://www.topica.com/lists/fd-dev unsubscribe: send blank email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Rv5.bbRv4l.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
