Examining an attack on the GPL

Examining an attack on the GPL

Posted Nov 30, 2003 12:04 UTC (Sun) by IkeTo (subscriber, #2122)
In reply to: Examining an attack on the GPL by josh_stern
Parent article: Examining an attack on the GPL

Is there some reason why a company that (perhaps unknowingly) steals GPL code for use in its proprietary product is more likely to have to lose a proprietary interest in their own contribution than a company that (perhaps unknowingly) steals code with some other license?

No. But that's an inappropriate comparison. You won't normally see the proprietary code lying there in web sites waiting for you to download without you signing an agreement, contract, whatever.

There are reasons why proprietary software writers would object GPL, and it is perfectly legitimate: GPL is written to crush them. While I'm perfectly for GPL and 100% against proprietary software, I think GPL software writers still have an obligation to remind people from falling into the trap and become forced to abandon their projects (or GPL their code). I mean, while the language of GPL is as clear as crystal, and while all the rules for using the software is clearly written there, we still shouldn't try misleading proprietary writers to believe that GPL is very safe to use for their project--and only after their projects started, tell them that they are violating the license and force them to stop. It's better to get them warned at the beginning.

If GPL wins over proprietary software, I'd much rather it win by a fair competition, rather than by misinformation by software writers.

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