Apache License [LWN.net]

Apache License

Posted Oct 6, 2004 11:49 UTC (Wed) by angdraug (subscriber, #7487)
In reply to: Apache License by dmh
Parent article: Gluecode Contributes BPM Engine to Apache Software Foundation

I think the ASF and FSF are both full of smart people, and will eventually resolve the GPL compatibility issues.

I never said they're not smart. I just tend to apply to ASF the Soviet proverb: a person can't be all three of smart, honest, and communist party member.

I have no reason to believe that ASF is interested in resolving the GPL compatibility issue. Their last word on the matter was that ASL 2.0 is GPL-compatible as far as they're concerned, and it's not their problem if someone thinks otherwise. Unlike most other projects with their own licenses (e.g. Mozilla, Ruby, OpenOffice.org), ASF doesn't allow to dual-license under GPL. This shows that they are not interested in GPL, to say the least.

Your flamebaiting, however, achieves nothing.

Wrong. It raises awareness of this issue. And it isn't just a flamebait: it is an opinion ("semi-open-source" part) supported by a fact ("can make no use of" part). I used not to care too much about GPL-incompatible licenses, too, until I realized how big of a problem it poses in the long term, especially when consolidated by organizations such as ASF.

And now it is a fact that I can't use SpamAssassin 3.0 in my GPLed open publishing engine, while it was possible with previous versions. I saw it coming, told about it, and now I got bitten by it. Why can't I complain about it?

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Apache License

Posted Oct 6, 2004 13:06 UTC (Wed) by dmh (guest, #14528) [Link]

Here is a suggestion which may be able to help you resolve the issue; you could release the next version of your open publishing engine under an Apache License 2.0/GPL dual-licence. All the best.

Dual license ASL/GPL

Posted Oct 6, 2004 19:09 UTC (Wed) by angdraug (subscriber, #7487) [Link]

It is both impossible (if I use SpamAssassin3 in my program, I can't distribute it under GPL at all, so the only option I have is to license it under ASL or simple BSD), and defeats the purpose of distributing my program under GPL in the first place (ASL is not copyleft and would allow for my code to be used in proprietary software, which is not acceptable to me). Thanks, but no, thanks. I'd rather use SpamAssassin 2.64 or other spam filter with GPL-compatible license.

Dual license ASL/GPL

Posted Oct 7, 2004 18:28 UTC (Thu) by dmh (guest, #14528) [Link]

Another possibility would be to take the approach of MySQL AB. If you licence your work under the GPL with the FLOSS License Exception, you will be able to preserve the copyleft. Hope that's of some use.