http://gplv3.fsf.org/gpl-draft-2007-05-31.html
Check out http://gplv3.fsf.org/rationale too. Section 2 is particularly interesting: "In the Final Draft we have removed the square brackets surrounding the cut-off date at the end of section 11, paragraph 7 (corresponding to section 11, paragraph 5 in Draft 3). That is to say, the Final Draft limits the effect of this provision to deals involving discriminatory patent promises that do not predate the release of Draft 3. The main reason for this is tactical. We believe we can do more to protect the community by allowing Novell to use software under GPL version 3 than by forbidding it to do so. This is because of paragraph 6 of section 11 (corresponding to paragraph 4 in Draft 3). It will apply, under the Microsoft/Novell deal, because of the coupons that Microsoft has acquired that essentially commit it to participate in the distribution of the Novell SLES GNU/Linux system. Microsoft is scrambling to dispose of as many Novell SLES coupons as possible prior to the adoption of GPLv3. Unfortunately for Microsoft, those coupons bear no expiration date, and paragraph 6 has no cut-off date. Through its ongoing distribution of coupons, Microsoft will have procured the distribution of GPLv3-covered programs as soon as they are included in Novell SLES distributions, thereby extending patent defenses to all down- stream recipients of that software by operation of paragraph 6." _______________________________________________ Slugnet mailing list [email protected] http://www.lugs.org.sg/mailman/listinfo/slugnet
