On 26 February 2011 10:36, Jeroen Demeyer <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 2011-02-26 07:57, William Stein wrote:
>> The *optional* spkg's do not have to comply with the GPLv2+, because
>> they are not distributed with Sage.
>
> I hope you are not saying that all standard packages DO have to comply
> with GPLv2+ otherwise we are in trouble.  The standard package
> cvxopt-1.1.3.spkg (and possibly others) is GPLv3+ , so it can *NOT* be
> distributed under GPLv2+.
>
> We had this discussion before when we wanted to include a new version of
> cvxopt in Sage and then the concensus seemed to be (at least that was my
> interpretation) that spkg did not need to comply with GPLv2+.
>
> Jeroen.

I have similar concerns. I think the FSF really screwed up creating
the GPL 3. If you look at the Matrix at

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#AllCompatibility

I can't honestly see how we can distribute GPL 3 code on a GPL v2+
license. The matrix shows:

"OK: Convey project under GPLv3 [3]"

Footnote 3 says:

"If you have the ability to release the project under GPLv2 or any
later version, you can choose to release it under GPLv3 or any later
version—and once you do that, you'll be able to incorporate the code
released under GPLv3."

So it seems to me we need to "upgrade" to GPL 3, but then that would
stop us using some code which is GPL 2 only. It seems a catch 22.

This is a huge can of worms.

Also, the Cygwin port needs OpenSSL installed, despite the fact the
FSF consider that against the GPL.

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#GPLIncompatibleLicenses

"The license of OpenSSL is a conjunction of two licenses, one of them
being the license of SSLeay. You must follow both. The combination
results in a copyleft free software license that is incompatible with
the GNU GPL. It also has an advertising clause like the original BSD
license and the Apache license."


Dave

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