Ian Hickson wrote:
>
> On Thu, 16 Aug 2001, JTK wrote:
> >
> > Peter Lairo wrote:
> >>
> >> This is something i have been wondering too.
> >>
> >> I would hate to have put all this effort into Mozilla and then, when
> >> everything is working great, have some copany come up and say: "we're
> >> taking this away from you now", or "bgzilla, or whatever structure you
> >> are using is no longer available".
> >>
> >> I'm sure it isn't like that, but some documentation would be nice.
> >
> > Oh me too. There's probably a very good reason the code is not release
> > under the GPL or some other free (not "Open") license.
>
> The MPL _is_ a free software license as defined by the free software
> foundation.
>
But I can't add GPLed code to it. That doesn't seem very Free to me.
> > Very good for AOL anyway.
>
> It's not released exclusively under the GPL because, as you presumably
> realise, that would make it impossible for AOL to merge the code with
> their own proprietary, money-making code, and with the proprietary
> code of your favourite topic, the AIM client.
>
So then why not the LGPL?
> AOL wants to make money, it's a business. If it didn't make money from
> the Mozilla source code, it wouldn't be funding its development.
I thought AOL made its money from its millions of suckers I mean
subscribers?
> The
> GPL would prevent it from being able to make money.
No, it wouldn't.
> That's why AOL
> doesn't use the GPL, as much as I would like it to.
Ok, what about this Ian:
I can't add anything to Mozilla without NPL/MPLing it, fine. As we used
to say back in the day, "if that chick don't wanna know, forget her".
Furthermore, while AOL can take the Mozilla code, do whatever they so
choose to it, and release it to the public, I cannot do the same,
correct?
Ok. So how about I release "Uncle Gair's Olde Tyme Mozilla Helper", a
set of GPLed (or LGPLed) patches to the Mozilla source, containing no
original Mozilla code whatsoever. Just add a few pounds of original
Mozilla source, stir, and build, and you got a Mozilla that's not so
much of a pig.
