How GPLv3 tackles license proliferation (LinuxDevices.com) [LWN.net]

How GPLv3 tackles license proliferation (LinuxDevices.com)

Posted Nov 10, 2006 22:43 UTC (Fri) by proski (subscriber, #104)
In reply to: How GPLv3 tackles license proliferation (LinuxDevices.com) by hathawsh
Parent article: How GPLv3 tackles license proliferation (LinuxDevices.com)

I don't think GPL can be edited and redistributed. See the beginning of the GPLv3 draft:

Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.

(Log in to post comments)

How GPLv3 tackles license proliferation (LinuxDevices.com)

Posted Nov 11, 2006 0:30 UTC (Sat) by hathawsh (subscriber, #11289) [Link]

Indeed you are correct. Thanks.

in practice this does not matter

Posted Nov 11, 2006 2:57 UTC (Sat) by JoeBuck (subscriber, #2330) [Link]

The fact that the basic document can't be changed doesn't prevent people from modifying the terms. What's typically done is to include the GPL, and then say, in the source code, that the license terms are the GPL plus some extra permissions. That's what's done for gcc's runtime libraries, for example.

in practice this does not matter

Posted Nov 11, 2006 10:02 UTC (Sat) by drag (subscriber, #31333) [Link]

ya that is not uncommon...

but people started to think they were smart and started to add extra restrictions. Stuff like "This is GPL, but if your military you can't use it" type thing.. which doesn't make sense because your making your GPL-ed code non-GPL compatable.

The GPLv3 + permissions model and making it more compatable is wonderfull because no matter what sort of confusing mish-mash of permissions and whatnot you end up with you always know what freedoms and obligations your under when running anything labled 'GPLv3'.