On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 6:37 AM, Dr. David Kirkby <david.kir...@onetel.net> wrote: > On 11/11/10 01:32 PM, Jason Grout wrote: > > >> As I understand it, currently, the whole Sage distribution is >> effectively GPLv3+, since it combines GPLv2+ and GPLv3+ code, so it is >> at least GPLv3. My understanding is that we currently can't include GPL2 >> (not +) code. However, if someone wanted to take just the Sage library >> and certain GPLv2+ packages (something like Purple Sage), then they >> could make a GPLv2+ distribution, and then they could incorporate GPLv2 >> (not +) code into their distribution. >> >> Another resource for this is the GPL FAQ, particularly: >> >> http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#AllCompatibility >> >> Thanks, >> >> Jason > > Thank you Jason. The particular page I was updating is just about adding new > .spkg files and not the library, so we don't need to address that here. I > think that's simpler anyway, but that's not the issue. > > > > One problem is that 95% of people don't actually follow the instructions in > the GPL, but simply copy the 'COPYING' file, so it ends with: > > <signature of Ty Coon>, 1 April 1989 > Ty Coon, President of Vice > > That also means 95% of people don't actually add "or any later version" to > their GPL2 code. For example, Maxima says: > > GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE > Version 2, June 1991 > > with no mention the code can be used under any later version of the GPL. If > you look at the nset.lisp, it says > > ; Released under terms of GNU GPL v2 with Bill's approval. > > with no mention whatsoever of the "or later".
For Maxima, this has been covered before. See http://www.mail-archive.com/sage-devel@googlegroups.com/msg12855.html and the rest of that thread where it was confirmed that Maxima is GPLv2+. --Mike -- To post to this group, send an email to sage-devel@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to sage-devel+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/sage-devel URL: http://www.sagemath.org
