quote:
The way it does this is by insisting that the code and anything
derived from
it is also released with the GPL licence. In some senses it is 'viral' in
nature and it is this that is central to many people's objections.
Also, it's worth noting that the word 'derived' is a little too
vague. Does a library linked to a GPL'd program need to be GPL'd also?
Does a program running on a free operating system need to be GPL'd?
There's no clear, obvious answer for either of these with the
current version of the GPL. The new version (3) is intended to fix some
of these shortcomings, but it's viral nature will remain.
quote:
Despite the meaning "virus" normally connotes, the viral aspect of the GNU
General Public License -- known formally as "copyleft" -- is a tremendous
benefit to free software developers and the community they support.
quote:
This is the 'viral clause' of GPL -- it compels anyone releasing software that
incorporates copylefted code to use the GPL in their new release. The Free
Software Foundation says: "you must cause any work that you distribute or
publish, that in whole or in part contains or is derived from the Program [any
program covered by this license] or any part thereof, to be licensed as a whole
at no charge to all third parties under the terms of this license."16
ripped shamelessly from a post by Handor to the Ars Technica forums.
However, such users have the same problems due to inconsiderate web-developers now. If more people used browsers that understood the newer standards, including stuff like CSS, developers may be more inclined to ensure that their sites work for all (CSS used for all the fluff, so it degrades nicely) - rather than spending their time trying for incompatibility between the many different browsers.
CSS could well be the main thing, not least because the major browsers (IE, Mozilla, not sure about Opera) allow the user to override CSS settings if desired.
Certainly it wouldn't be a total immediate cure-all, but the optimist in me believes that it won't make things worse - and in the longer term it should improve things for everyone.
Supporting the newer web standards does not mean that support for the lower-end would disappear. Indeed, newer HTML versions are better for accessibility purposes than older versions.
It does mean that support for the old, buggy, non-standard shit is reduced. Good news all round, IMO.
Slashdot Mirror
GPL
is
a
viral
license!!!!!
ripped shamelessly from a post by Handor to the Ars Technica forums.
newbie
it's time to progress to the next level
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0077294
perhaps you are thinking of this?
O.J. is in the movie.
The font resize tip also works with my Logitech Pilot+ (aka FirstMouse). I expect it works with all mice with a wheel.
True enough.
However, such users have the same problems due to inconsiderate web-developers now. If more people used browsers that understood the newer standards, including stuff like CSS, developers may be more inclined to ensure that their sites work for all (CSS used for all the fluff, so it degrades nicely) - rather than spending their time trying for incompatibility between the many different browsers.
CSS could well be the main thing, not least because the major browsers (IE, Mozilla, not sure about Opera) allow the user to override CSS settings if desired.
Certainly it wouldn't be a total immediate cure-all, but the optimist in me believes that it won't make things worse - and in the longer term it should improve things for everyone.
Supporting the newer web standards does not mean that support for the lower-end would disappear. Indeed, newer HTML versions are better for accessibility purposes than older versions.
It does mean that support for the old, buggy, non-standard shit is reduced. Good news all round, IMO.