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Drafting GPL3

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the version-upgrades-are-hard dept.

johns writes "In an article released yesterday, Eben Moglen and Richard Stallman outline four purposes of the GPL, to explain the guideposts they will use in drafting GPL3: the GPL is a worldwide copyright license, the code of conduct for free software distributors, the constitution of the free software movement, and the literary work of RMS. They also make this commitment: 'The Foundation will, before it emits a first discussion draft, publicize the process by which it intends to gather opinions and suggestions.'"

3 of 389 comments (clear)

  1. Background on the GPL by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 4, Informative

    GPL v2 doesn't specifically address the patent problem. Anyway, here's the story on Revising the GPL.

  2. Re:Older versions? by egypt_jimbob · · Score: 3, Informative

    Most GPLd software has the phrase "or, at your option, any later version". However, some state explicitly that only a specific version applies. For example, WARNING: hping2 is covered *ONLY* by GPL version 2, and *NOT* any others.

    So it's really up to the author.

    --
    I am a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar.
  3. Re:What happens with deceased people's code? by phoenix.bam! · · Score: 4, Informative
    This isn't interesting at all! The code granny wrote is covered under standard copyright, just like if she wrote a book and died. Someone would inherit the full copyright. The code released by granny under the GPL is still going to be released under the GPL, nothing about her tragic passing changes anything.

    Maybe the parent was being funny, but certainly not interesting.