Re: [DotGNU]UDDI (was Re: Our blindspot)

[David Sugar]

First, there are two very different concepts of what GPL "compatible" 
might mean being asserted here and this has some relevance to the FD 
charter.

In one case, a software might be licensed in a way that it can be 
relicensed under the GPL.  This is the case of BSD software certainly. 
Software on disjunctive licenses that include the GPL as an option also 
fall into this category.  On the face of it, a license that can be used 
to release software under the GPL surely meets the FD charter.  Perhaps 
this category should be called GPL "convertable" so that it is more 
clear.  This in reality is a subset of "GPL compatible".

When one speaks of GPL "compatible", I believe this often is meant as 
something else; software that can be used with or linked with software 
under the GPL but which is itself under a different and non-conflicting 
license.  Clearly anything that is "convertable" to the GPL is in effect 
compatible as well, although the reverse need not be true.  What the FD 
charter says of this may well be different and more strict than what GNU 
says of this.  However, since BSD licensed code is "convertable" I would 
argue it's use is valid as per the FD charter, the only question being 
if FD requires it to be relicensed for it's use and distribution.

Norbert Bollow wrote:

> > I stand corrected, partially. I believe the FreeDevelopers charter
> > limits us to copylefted software,
>
> One of the requirements for software to be "official DotGNU
> software" is that it must be GPL'd.  (It seems that GPL with
> linking exception, and LGPL are close enough to GPL to satisfy
> this requirement).
>
> This is a restriction on what licenses we can use for software
> that we create, not a restriction on what software we can use
> as dependencies, and (where appropriate) distribute with
> DotGNU.  All Free Software with GPL-compatible licensing is fine
> for that.
>
> > or did I miss yet another memo?
> >
> > > According to this, BSD software (aka 'XFree86 Style') is Free, although
> > > non-copylefted. (#TOCNon-CopyleftedFreeSoftware)
>
> It's also GPL-compatible, meaning that if it turns out that we
> want to make big changes, we are allowed to create a GPL'd
> derivative work.  This is good enough so that we should feel
> free to use it and contribute any small changes to the current
> maintainers -- unless we actually make big, extensive changes,
> or changes that the current maintainers don't want to include in
> their version, the overhead of maintaining a GPL fork cannot be
> justified in any way.
>
> Greetings, Norbert.