On Fri, Apr 13, 2012 at 6:25 PM, Simon Holywell <[email protected]>wrote:
> Jochen and Jonathon, > > This is my primary bug bear with GPL: > http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#LinkingWithGPL > > The referenced question explains how the GPL requires that programs linked to GPL software must be covered by a compatible licence. This is a deliberate design decision in the writing of the GPL, it's to ensure that code released under the GPL can't be tied up with other software that would prevent it being used under the GPL. On the other hand, it's only people you give the code to who have the right to use it under the GPL. I don't understand why it should be a problem to give this to a customer who probably only has a thin shim on top of a large GPL code base to be able to pass that on. If you have a use case where you don't want to allow your customers to be able to modify and on-sell the changes they've paid for, then the answer is simple, don't use GPL covered code as the base of your product.. Interestingly enough IBM, Sun (although not Oracle) and other large companies have had no problem releasing code under the GPL and even Microsoft[1] has done it, however albeit grudginly. Bruce [1] http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/072009-microsoft-linux-source-code.html -- Bruce Clement Home: http://www.clement.co.nz/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/Bruce_Clement Directory: http://www.searchme.co.nz/ "Before attempting to create something new, it is vital to have a good appreciation of everything that already exists in this field." Mikhail Kalashnikov -- NZ PHP Users Group: http://groups.google.com/group/nzphpug To post, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe, send email to [email protected]
