Linux  and Free Software :: licensing



This is why I put both questions in the same thread.  Two oragnizations founded the same year* could be of mutual benifit without compromising eather ones pricipals.  But is starting to become too dificult for a simple computer nurd!

This leads back to my question of licensing.  For a program, disto, etc.. to be most successful if must be able to propagate as freely as possable or become so proprietary that it excludes all others.  Between this and 'that other tread' and the GPL version 3 I am questioning even giving a copy of DSL to a friend who is not a co-worker (I have given away quite a number of copies without even charging for the cd I burned it to).  Perhaps this thread should be submitted to the FSF for clarification.

Until and unless I hear differently I will respect the statement by roberts (Thank You).  I doubt that turn-around times in the snail mail system will make this years YUSA auction especialy if I need the sources beforehand.  I just thought this would be a nice way to spread the word about DSL and GNU/Linux and support something else I believe in.

I guess this brings me back to the question of which license without spending more time studying licenses then writng software?

spark-o-matic

* http://www.fsf.org/news/compromise first sentence and http://www.yesterdayusa.com quoted earlier in this thread.

ok..a bunch more research.

based on
Quote
What is the difference between an “aggregate” and other kinds of “modified versions”?

   An “aggregate” consists of a number of separate programs, distributed together on the same CD-ROM or other media. The GPL permits you to create and distribute an aggregate, even when the licenses of the other software are non-free or GPL-incompatible. The only condition is that you cannot release the aggregate under a license that prohibits users from exercising rights that each program's individual license would grant them.
and continues with legal definitions including
Quote
This is a legal question, which ultimately judges will decide.
from http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/gpl-faq.html the GPL version 3 faq.  Is DSL is a GPL'd aggrigate and if so is it GPL V2 or GPL V2 or any later version?

From http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/gpl.html GPL Vresion 3
Quote
4. Conveying Verbatim Copies.

You may convey verbatim copies of the Program's source code as you receive it, in any medium, provided that you conspicuously and appropriately publish on each copy an appropriate copyright notice; keep intact all notices stating that this License and any non-permissive terms added in accord with section 7 apply to the code; keep intact all notices of the absence of any warranty; and give all recipients a copy of this License along with the Program.

You may charge any price or no price for each copy that you convey, and you may offer support or warranty protection for a fee.
and from http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html GPL VERSION 2
Quote
1.  You may copy and distribute verbatim copies of the Program's source code as you receive it, in any medium, provided that you conspicuously and appropriately publish on each copy an appropriate copyright notice and disclaimer of warranty; keep intact all the notices that refer to this License and to the absence of any warranty; and give any other recipients of the Program a copy of this License along with the Program.

You may charge a fee for the physical act of transferring a copy, and you may at your option offer warranty protection in exchange for a fee.


So that applies to Bash, uncompiled PERL etc...

From GLP V3
Quote
6. Conveying Non-Source Forms.
[...]
b) Convey the object code in, or embodied in, a physical product (including a physical distribution medium), accompanied by a written offer, valid for at least three years and valid for as long as you offer spare parts or customer support for that product model, to give anyone who possesses the object code either (1) a copy of the Corresponding Source for all the software in the product that is covered by this License, on a durable physical medium customarily used for software interchange, for a price no more than your reasonable cost of physically performing this conveying of source, or (2) access to copy the Corresponding Source from a network server at no charge.
# c) Convey individual copies of the object code with a copy of the written offer to provide the Corresponding Source. This alternative is allowed only occasionally and noncommercially, and only if you received the object code with such an offer, in accord with subsection 6b.
from GPL v2
Quote
3.  You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it, under Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above provided that you also do one of the following:

   a) Accompany it with the complete corresponding machine-readable source code, which must be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 (SECTION 2 DOES NOT APPLY BECAUSE THIS IS NOT MODIFIED) above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or,
   b) Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three years, to give any third party, for a charge no more than your cost of physically performing source distribution, a complete machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code, to be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or,
   c) Accompany it with the information you received as to the offer to distribute corresponding source code. (This alternative is allowed only for noncommercial distribution and only if you received the program in object code or executable form with such an offer, in accord with Subsection b above.)
 YUSA is definatly not a comercialy entity and I don't see where voluntering my time to burn the cd's, donating the cd's, envelopes, postage, etc... could be concidered comercial.

As far as my future intentions to distrubute software that will work best with DSL, DSL-N or 'The project formerly known as dslcore', At $7+ per copy of the sources to comply where I expect there will be a number of 'The project formerly known as dslcore' durring beta and how many releases of DSL have there been in the last year?  I would like to be able to provide an agragate of my original software and DSL etc...  at the most reasonable price possable especialy durring alpha and beta to encourage participation.  I target 'below average' end users for the largest user base.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE



National Telecommunications and Information Administration



47 C.F.R. 301



Docket Number: 0612242667-7051-01



RIN 0660-AA16



Rules to Implement and Administer
a Coupon Program for
Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/frnotices/2007/DTVFinalRule_2e.htm
says
Quote
52. Most commenters on the subject supported the inclusion of both composite video/audio and RF outputs in the converter box. THAT Corporation (THAT Corp.) noted in its comments that “[t]o utilize these (composite video) outputs, consumers must be able to connect three separate cables from these converter box outputs to three corresponding inputs on the TV monitor. . . such a hookup requires a degree of technical competence lacking in many consumers.”[ 96 ]...
I inserted the underline.  This would be a large part of my target audence.  Getting copies of sources for every version could become financialy prohibitive for me and time consuming on both parts.

I propose this solution.  Evidently there have not been excessive requests under the current offer.  GLP Verson 3 expressly permits the soruces to be distributed by bittorrent
Quote
6. Conveying Non-Source Forms.
[...]
e) Convey the object code using peer-to-peer transmission, provided you inform other peers where the object code and Corresponding Source of the work are being offered to the general public at no charge under subsection 6d.
and from the FAQ
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How does GPLv3 make BitTorrent distribution easier?

   Because GPLv2 was written before peer-to-peer distribution of software was common, it is difficult to meet its requirements when you share code this way. The best way to make sure you are in compliance when distributing GPLv2 object code on BitTorrent would be to include all the corresponding source in the same torrent, which is prohibitively expensive.

   GPLv3 addresses this problem in two ways. First, people who download this torrent and send the data to others as part of that process are not required to do anything. That's because section 9 says “Ancillary propagation of a covered work occurring solely as a consequence of using peer-to-peer transmission to receive a copy likewise does not require acceptance [of the license].”

   Second, section 6(e) of GPLv3 is designed to give distributors—people who initially seed torrents—a clear and straightforward way to provide the source, by telling recipients where it is available on a public network server. This ensures that everyone who wants to get the source can do so, and it's almost no hassle for the distributor.
So this would be the most hassle free and cost efficient to distribute the soruces for future versions and encourage 'hacks' build on DSL.

Wow.  It's almost 3:30 am here..way past my bedtime!  Im just going to post this then edit later.

spark-o-matic

DSL is a collection of programs and scripts with different licenses, so yes it's an aggregate, and as a whole not under the GPL. Of the GPL apps included most are v2 or later version, and some are v2 only (kernel).

I agree with you this legal stuff is a mess for non-lawyers..

spark-o-matic, I would ask that dslcore not be distributed. It was alpha code at best when last available here. Given the situation of an absent owner and the state of affaris as it relates to this forum and overall lack site administration, my new project, formerly known as dslcore, will be hosted elsewhere. A more formal announcement with url will be made soon.
Thanks Roberts.  I will respect your wishes.
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