On Wednesday, May 21, 2003, at 10:07 AM, Bill Moseley wrote:

> On Wed, May 21, 2003 at 08:27:42AM -0700, Roy Tennant wrote:
>
>> Having looked at the GPL license more closely
>> <http://www.opensource.org/licenses/gpl-license.php>, I tend to think
>> it is too restrictive.
>
> I have a strong desire for gin when I start reading licenses.  What 
> did you find too
> restrictive.

Really? I find I have an urge for single malt scotch, myself...

What I'm finding too restrictive is the religious nature of the 
license. That is, it isn't enough that this specific application be 
open source, it must force every other application with which it comes 
into contact be open source as well. Frankly, I'd prefer that we create 
software that enables a lot of great things to happen, of all different 
stripes. But then, I've never been very religious so maybe it's just me.

>
>> Alternatives that have been suggested include
>> the "lite" version of GPL
>> <http://www.opensource.org/licenses/lgpl-license.php> and the BSD
>> license <http://www.opensource.org/licenses/bsd-license.php>.
>
> Did you read: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/why-not-lgpl.html
>
> I frankly do not clearly understand the details of the licenses and 
> the real difference
> between LGPL and GPL.  Let me poke around a bit.

The difference is that GPL forces any software that uses a GPL 
application to be open source as well. The LGPL, as well as other 
licenses, does not force such a thing. So what we need to decide is 
whether we want to force any application that uses SWISH-E into open 
source, and therefore limit the potential use and application of 
SWISH-E, or wether we don't want to so limit its use. It's telling to 
me that Stallman says that the key characteristic about whether to go 
with GPL or LGPL is whether or not there are competing applications 
available. That is, if there is another open source application that 
does about the same thing as yours, you should probably go with LGPL or 
else people will run, not walk, to the competing application due to a 
less restrictive license. If, however, your application is unique, you 
should use the GPL which will force applications that use it into open 
source.

>
> How much money is left in the Swish-e.com legal budget, Roy?

We have just as much left in that budget as we began with, you crazy 
nut...<grin>
Roy

>
> -- 
> Bill Moseley
> moseley@hank.org
>
>