From: "Benjamin J. Tilly" Date: 2001-03-14T11:16:58+09:00 Subject: [ruby-talk:12595] Re: Licensing, Intellectual Property, and Ruby code (longish) >===== Original Message From Richard Stallman ===== >It is very important to specify a clear license policy for the library >of modules, and very important to think carefully about what the >policy should be. In some ways having a clear policy is more important than the details of what that policy is. >It can be advantageous to use a lax license (such as the revised BSD >license or the Ruby license) for very basic general facilities, but >when it comes to more specific packages, it would be best to use the >GPL for them, so as to use their leverage to obtain more free >software. So I would suggest a two-level policy distinguishing >between very basic general facilities and other modules. Best is a normative statement based on a value system. It is absolutely clear that by your value system (which is explained very clearly in your writings) whatever policy results in promoting free software is best. However the value system of many involved with Ruby may lead to a different answer. I think it is fair to say that most contributers to Ruby at this point have met the language, like it, and their primary goal is to see the language grow. For that goal it would be best if the standard archive of useful libraries was licensed under terms that are usable in a wide range of situations. Therefore I think it is important that they be usable within GPLed software, but I do not think that it is necessary that there be undue pressure to go GPL only. OTOH it may be sufficient to require that all software on the RAA be under GPL compatible licensing terms. That is loose enough to be usable under a wide range of situations, but it makes the rights clear enough that people will be free to cut the archive to CD, know that they can always combine components, etc. >If the main Ruby developers are reading this, could you show me >your version of the Artistic License? It would be good to make >sure your version of it is GPL-compatible. The version used in Perl 5 >is not GPL-compatible, and not even clearly a free software license, >but small changes make it both. You can find it at: http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/LICENSE.txt Cheers, Ben ------------------------------------------- The Fastest Browser on Earth now for FREE!! Download Opera 5 for Windows now! Get it at http://www.opera.com/download/ -------------------------------------------