K.S. Bhaskar wrote:
/snip/
> In the case of the pedi project, I recommend
> the GPL.
As I understand the architecture of VistA, new functionality will tend to
include / result from modifications to existing code rather than simply
additions of new code modules that are completely seperate from the existing
code. To the extent that this is true it seems to me that there may be some
non-trivial questions that need to be addressed. For example...
Is is possible for a single piece of source code to have more than one
license?
If the code is a mix of FOIA software and new
additions, can the additions be licensed at all?
For example, "lines 1,2,3 and 7 are FOIA but
lines 4,5, and 6 are additions subject to the GPL."
I've never heard of a situation like this.
Is it possible to release FOIA software under a more restrictive license?
In general, all the OSS licenses I'm aware of
preclude the licensee from releasing derivative
code under a more restrictive license. The
licensee must give recipients at least the same
rights he was given. FOIA software contains
no license restrictions. OSS licenses do. So
it would seem that there may be an issue
attendant with the re-release of FOIA software
under an OSS license.
Is it even possible to for anyone other than the original author to set the
license terms?
I'm not aware of a situation where someone
other than the original author(s) has (have) set
the license terms. Is there any legal precedent
for this?
Assuming that FOIA software *can* be re-released by someone other than the
original author(s) under an OSS license, what steps have to be taken?
In general, for a license to be valid, its terms
must be presented and accepted. Most software
presents you with a license agreement upon
installation. Are there accepted alternatives? Or
does this capability have to be built into WorldVistA
software? Also, for example, many OSS licenses
require the terms to be included in the source code.
Anybody sized this effort?
Even if the new code (e.g., pedi) is completely seperate from the existing
code, if the FOIA portion can't be re-released under an OSS license, is
there any precedent in the market for a mixed-license model?
I'm no lawyer, but I'd want the answers to these and other questions before
I contributed code. If WorldVistA (or anyone else) has already investigated
these issues, is there a document somewhere that provides the answers?
Thanks,
Bill
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