[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread] 

List:       debian-devel
Subject:    Re: GR proposal: the AGPL does not meet the DFSG (take 2)
From:       The Fungi <fungi () yuggoth ! org>
Date:       2009-11-13 1:53:43
Message-ID: 20091113015341.GI30134 () yuggoth ! org
[Download RAW message or body]

On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 11:07:12PM +0000, David Claughton wrote:
[...]
> It is always possible to modify free software in ways that effectively
> make it non-free - for example if you remove all the copyright
> statements from a BSD covered program.
[...]

This is untrue, at least for modern 3-clause BSD[*] and its
derivatives. I can remove the copyright statements from any
BSD-licensed software I like, as long as I don't *redistribute* it
in that form. By my reading, licenses like BSD or (classic) GPL
place no restrictions on use, even of modified versions. The AGPL
goes a great deal further than this, by *requiring* you to become a
distributor of software you use, even if you only do something so
simple as make a minor modification to an AGPL-covered work
providing a network service.

[* And even the old advertising clause, generally deemed
DFSG-compliant, only adds restrictions on what you have to include
in your advertising materials *if* you choose to have any--you can
still choose not to have advertising materials for a derivative
work of classic BSD software.]
-- 
{ IRL(Jeremy_Stanley); PGP(9E8DFF2E4F5995F8FEADDC5829ABF7441FB84657);
SMTP(fungi@yuggoth.org); IRC(fungi@irc.yuggoth.org#ccl); ICQ(114362511);
AIM(dreadazathoth); YAHOO(crawlingchaoslabs); FINGER(fungi@yuggoth.org);
MUD(fungi@katarsis.mudpy.org:6669); WWW(http://fungi.yuggoth.org/); }


-- 
To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-devel-REQUEST@lists.debian.org
with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmaster@lists.debian.org

[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread]