[TriLUG] GPLv3 -- What do you think?

[Rick DeNatale]

On 3/16/06, Nathan Conrad <conrad at bungled.net> wrote:
> I think that you missed the /COPYING file in the kernel source:
..
> To me, it seems quite clear that the ENTIRE Linux source is to be
> distributed with the GPL v2 license. It isn't necessary for one to put
> the statement in every source file, is it?

The problem is that most of the individual files have copyright
statements by different authors.  No one, including Linus has
copyright to the entire kernel source code.

What I see is a file called COPYING which has a preamble and a copy of
GPL V2, which raises the question if it meets the FSF requirement for
an unaltered copy of the license.

But just throwing in a copy of the GPL in a bucket with a bunch of
code with different copyrights and license statements doesn't really
constitute licensing the whole bucket under the GPL. Each individual
copyright holder needs to license the parts (s)he holds copyright to.

Here's what the GPL itself says about HOW to license SW under the GPL,
I've added some emphasis in the second paragraph.

           How to Apply These Terms to Your New Programs

   If you develop a new program, and you want it to be of the greatest
   possible use to the public, the best way to achieve this is to make it
   free software which everyone can redistribute and change under these
   terms.

   To do so, attach the following notices to the program.  It is safest
   to attach them to the start of EACH SOURCE FILE to most effectively
   convey the exclusion of warranty; and EACH FILE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST
    THE "COPYRIGHT" LINE AND A POINTER TO  WHERE THE FULL NOTICE IS
    FOUND.

    <one line to give the program's name and a brief idea of what it does.>
    Copyright (C) <year>  <name of author>

    This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
     it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
     the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
     (at your option) any later version.

     This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
     but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
     MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
     GNU General Public License for more details.

     You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
     along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
     Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA
      02111-1307  USA

     Also add information on how to contact you by electronic and paper
     mail.

My random sampling of the sources indicates that not very many files
follow the letter of the GPL to the full extent. Some only have the
copyright and pointer to the GPL, and some have neither.

As Arte Johnson used to say on Laugh-in "Veeery Interesting!"

--
Rick DeNatale

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