Dear list-members, (* let me introduce myself. My name is Reyk Floeter, OpenBSD hacker from the Hannover area. I have been around in the Open Source world since a while. I am very happy with the spirit and efforts of the OpenBSD project (www.openbsd.org).
As the name mentions "Open", one would think this organisation embraces openess and real freedom. I can't help but feel that this is totally right. The license does not restrict the freedom and usage of open source software for governments, companies and end-users alike. Changing the license or the copyright notice is not allowed, but linking, using, copying, modifing, and distributing the software for any purpose with or without fee is granted. And this is what the OpenBSD project intends. Real freedom should be as free as free beer, free wireless drivers without blobs, or free protocols without any fishy patent licenses.. I prefer to continue using the current ISC-style license of the OpenBSD project: /* * Copyright (c) CCYY YOUR NAME HERE <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> * * Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software for any * purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above * copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies. * * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES * WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF * MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR * ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES * WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN * ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF * OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE. */ And there is even more: http://www.openbsd.org/lyrics.html#43 ftp://ftp.openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD/songs/song43.mp3 If you have any questions or comments, go to the OpenBSD website at http://www.openbsd.org/ or have a look at /usr/share/misc/license.template on an installed OpenBSD system. With kind regards, Reyk Floeter *) Sorry, I couldn't resist. On Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 02:06:15AM +0800, Morton Harrow wrote: > Dear gentlemen (and included list-members), > > Let me first introduce myself. My name is Morton Harrow, senior GNU/Linux > consultant in the London metropolitan area. I have been around in the Open > Source world since the early beginning. I am very happy with the spirit and > efforts of the Free Software Foundation (FSF). > > As the name mentions free, one would think this organisation embraces real > freedom. I can't help but feel that the FSF has made a mistake with the > release of the third version of the GPL (GPLv3). This license restricts the > freedom and usage of open source software for governments, companies and > end-users alike. > Linking from other software which is not regarded by the FSF as free software, > is not allowed by this license. I can't help but wonder if this is the freedom > the FSF intensions. Real free should be that users are allowed link any > software against GPL licensed software, without restrictions. But the current > freedom restricts the spirit of Richard M. Stallman's original vision on a > free world. > > We propose to release as soon as possible, version 4 of the General Public > License. > > The GPL version 4 will accept every other license, accepted by the Open Source > Initiative as open source. Corporate usage of GPL released software should be > possible without restrictions. Linking from closed source software to GPLv4 > software and libraries will be permitted. GPLv4 software can be shipped in > (commercial) closed source software. Only this and the original authors need > to be mentioned. Also, I believe the copyright of the FSF software should be > transferred to the United Nations. As human knowledge belongs to the world. > > Our planned release date of GPLv4 is 15th September 2008. The first software > to be released under the terms of this new license, will be a continuation of > the stalled ReiserFS project. As the FSF headers allow software to be released > under the terms of the GPLv2 or higher, we will prepare automatic relicensing > of GPLv2 and GPLv3 software to the GPLv4. > > If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me. > > With kind regards, > > Morton Harrow > > > = > > > -- > Powered by Outblaze
