On Sun, 2011-01-09 at 12:02 +0530, steve wrote:
I know ^^^^ that's not exactly the reason you are
banging your head,
but you are
banging it nonetheless since you just can't seem to convince people in
either
simple or a long-winded manner just /how/ BSD is ^more free^. heh
I am banging my head on the keyboard because if you see sub thread, the
reason I posted that list of projects that have happily existed for
years without being taken over was to illustrate the point that for a
project to sustain as open source, it needs to attract a critical mass
of developers who each retain their own copyright and hence make it
impossible for anyone to buy the copyright. The type of license is
irrelevant here. Mysql is the classic case on the one side and linux is
the classic case on the other side. And both are GPLed. The Apache
project is a classic case on the BSD license side, but I am unable to
find an equivalent of Mysql model of development on the BSD side - but I
am sure the GPLwalas would be able to supply any number of examples.
I was bit surprised to find that apart from Narendra in the case of
small scripts, every one else on this list publishes their open source
code under the GPL. On analysing why, I think I have found the solution.
I am an applications developer - right at the bottom of the food chain
and being in the python/django world, which is mainly driven by BSD
style licenses, I find using the BSD style license helps me remain
friends with the people whose code I use. But looking at the examples
given by the list members, I now realise that most of them are linux
kernel hackers - or developers of embedded stuff. This stuff (as I have
mentioned before) could be best GPLed - and in fact GPL rules in this
sphere.
I had however expected that those in this list who contribute code to
the modern scripting languages - perl, python php etc - would appreciate
and abide by the BSD style licenses of those languages. But it looks
like most of the list members hack on C, C++ and java - which are all
GPLed. I personally am incapable of learning these languages (I *have*
tried) but I have nothing but respect for people who can - and so have
to respect their choice of GPL - they have no choice actually.
And it is obvious that no one contributes code to the apache family of
applications (probably no one uses them since these come much lower down
in the food chain than the kernel, GNU toolchain and the core
languages). Fortunately I happen to belong to other lists where such
lower level people exist - so life is not all complications ;-)
I admit in my earlier days I never used to sleep well because I was
worried that someone would steal my code over night and either GPL it or
make it closed source. But I am happy to note that all the code in the
various repositories is still there every morning when I check - so now
I sleep well.
I was surprised to find that if one contributes translations to
launchpad, one is compelled to submit it under the BSD license. What are
the consequences of integrating a BSD licensed translation into a GPL'ed
code base? But it looks like no one here contributes to launchpad -
which is a pity, there are so many applications which need translation
and a lot of people who cannot contribute code or documentation can do
this - and launchpad makes it so easy. You can contribute as much you
like - even just do a word a day if you do not have much time. But
unfortunately it is BSD license, so some one may 'steal' the translation
and make it proprietary. And why do some thing so mundane as translation
when one can hack the kernel?
One big positive that I can take from this debate is that I learned that
the GPL does not compel one to release one's code to the public if one
distributes it. A can sell the code to B under GPL, and then flog the
same copy to C and to D and to E ... B, C, D et al, having paid huge
amounts for the 'product' are very unlikely to give it away, so as long
as they do not meet up A can go laughing all the way to the bank. Nice
to know.
--
regards
KG
http://lawgon.livejournal.com
Coimbatore LUG rox
http://ilugcbe.techstud.org/