> Alain : I believe that the collaborative aspects are
> the most important for the success and long-term
> viability of this team effort. Without a solid
> infrastructure and some shared freely-agreed-upon
> rules, our best efforts might be sabotaged by various
> conflicts. The licencing issue, for example, is
> potentially explosive particularly when things will
> have evolved to the point where commercial interests
> might cloud our community-spirit.
Anthony : Well, the licencing issue is pretty much a non-issue
presently...
Alain : I disagree. What you write below actually confirms rather than
refutes my argument that the licencing issue is potentially explosive.
Anthony : The people who write the stuff will decide a licence. I can't
force Uli -- and should not be able for force -- to accept the LGPL,
and simularly no one can force me -- or should be able to force me --
to accept a clause forbidding sale of Interpreter.
Alain : In this scheme, each separate element/module/component/whatever
will have a different licence associated with it. What a headache. And
that�s assuming that each contribution is modular enough to be so
distinguished. What about the contributions that are not modular (a
feature that is useful across the board, for example) or contributions
that are themselves collaborations?
Anthony : The programmers, artists, etc. who have their actual
intellectual property in OpenCard obviously have to agree on some terms
under which to put OpenCard out, but that's long into the future.
Alain : Contributors should know beforehand how their work will be
used. In this manner, they will be acting with full knowledge ;
otherwise, they could retract their contribution(s) later on, assuming
these contributions are modular enough, and assuming that the �idea� is
clearly that person�s idea. Either way, if the contribution was deemed
essential enough, it would be re-engineered, despite the author�s
wishes. Contentious or what !
Anthony : More explosive is the line, "where commercial interests might
cloud our community-spirit."
Alain : I should perhaps re-phrase this line because, as evidenced by
your reaction to it, its meaning is ambiguous.
Anthony : Because, quite frankly, I don't think any of us are here
except that we have something -- a replacement for a needed software
product -- to gain. At least I hope that's the case.
Alain : Yes, a replacement for HyperCard that will allow us to author
stacks and standalones that are royalty-free (no licencing hassles). A
prohibition on the resale of OpenCard itself would be understandable
however.
Anthony : And I don't think that there is anything wrong with
commercial interests...
Alain : You�re absolutely right. As a developer, I want to develop
high-quality software in as little time as possible. The tools
currently available are UN-satisfactory. I am still searching for a
system/language combination (toolbox) that will provide me with
everything I need to develop my value-added solutions. OODL would fit
that bill quite nicely.
Anthony : ... and everything wrong with "community-spirit" -- at least
in the sense it is normally held to mean.
Alain : Wow! We don�t have the same definition of community-spirit. I
was alluding to the fact that by concerting our efforts we will achieve
something that no one person could pull off by himself, something
comparable to or superior to what providers like MicroSloth are dishing
out. Power to the People, so to speak.
Anthony : No one here should be under any obligation to contribute any
work; any work forced out of people will be lower than par in quality,
and is wrong, besides.
Alain : QUITE RIGHT! Who could argue otherwise? I would NEVER EVER
suggest that we force anyone to work for us against their will.
Anthony : I've probably started a political flamewar... I'm getting the
fire extinguisher and fire-resistant clothing <g>.
Alain : I don�t want to create a controversy with this licencing issue.
On the contrary, I wish to discuss now so that we can avoid future
problems with regard to licencing and ownership. Furthermore, let�s do
it NOW while vested interests are still latent.
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