On 11 Jul 2006 10:36:26 +0100, Ciaran O'Riordan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
"Dean Michael Berris" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > The GPL looks good, but it's really bad in so many instances, it doesn't > even make sense anymore. It has been been enforced thousands of times, and has been upheld in court multiple times. It defines the rules for the distribution of most free software, and under these rules free software has flourished.
I am not arguing the effectiveness and the "upholdability" of the GPL. I am saying that especially when building solutions that will require the GPL, there is a certain amount of apprehention and legal bruhaha that it has become limiting rather than empowering. Take for instance libraries that are released (either unintentionally or purposely) under the GPL -- all the binaries that link to these libraries will be considered derivative work therefore should also be under the GPL. In some instances, it _may_ be good, but in others it isn't especially if you're building a solution that should work with other non-GPLed systems.
But, if you think you have found a problem with the GPL, please tell FSF right now. This year, FSF is spending a whole year listening to suggestions for how to write a better GPL.
Nope, I don't have a problem with GPL per se -- but I will avoid it as much as I could if I genuinely want to make software that will truly be open and reusable without dragging politics into the picture. I am thankful for the GPL because a lot of the great software out there is licensed under it -- as well as some of my personal and professional projects. However, I don't think it's necessarily the best open source license out there in _pragmatic_ instances. -- Dean Michael C. Berris C/C++ Software Architect Orange and Bronze Software Labs http://3w-agility.blogspot.com/ http://cplusplus-soup.blogspot.com/ Mobile: +639287291459 Email: dean [at] orangeandbronze [dot] com _________________________________________________ Philippine Linux Users' Group (PLUG) Mailing List [email protected] (#PLUG @ irc.free.net.ph) Read the Guidelines: http://linux.org.ph/lists Searchable Archives: http://archives.free.net.ph
