GPL3 Questions and Implications

It has been suggested by Shane Martin Coughlan following a gently heated discussion on the discussion@fsfeurope.org mailing list, that a collection of questions relating to the GPL3 be collated and put to the FSF authors.

* Shane Martin Coughlan wrote, On 21/11/07 20:14:

Suggestion:

How about we make a list of concerns that people have and I email BrettSmith with them? That way we consolidate the concerns into onesubmission and potentially speed up the process of obtaining answers.MJ, Sam, perhaps you could coordinate the list of questions.

This page is setup for that purpose.

Readers: feel free to add comments or questions relating to GPL3 or AGPL, a compilation of which will be sent to Brett Smith by Shane.

My personal proposal is the creation of a list of implications of choosing a specific license to help prospective licensors choose (or avoid) a license according to their requirements.

My proposed implication is:

The GPL is widely considered a share-alike license where licensors have understood that the same terms will propagate throughout the distribution chain.

With the GPL3 this is not true: at some time in the distribution chain, derived works may have certain additional restrictions added, thus licensing the combined work under the AGPL such that when an original contributor receives the derived work with enhancements to his own work, he may not distribute any combination of his work with any of those enhancements unless he does so with the additional restrictions of the AGPL.
If the licensor finds this disparity objectionable then he may prefer to use the GPL2.

I believe that this implication is not widely understood and because ealier versions of the GPL are widely known to prohibit the addition of extra restrictions, this implication is also unexpected.

Derek Cooper Special Award 2007

Here’s my nomination for the Food and Farming Awards 2007 Derek Cooper Special Award

Ray Gunge
Hardtack Hall, Hardtack Lane, Noshleigh
(no phone number, sorry)

With long service to the nation as chairman of the British Catering Council and other industry associations, and awarded the Confrerie des Snacquevins, few can have done more to make a healthy diet more important to the nation, or a varied diet more interesting.

Rather than continuously trotting out last years healthy but but unwelcome fad, Ray has always been at the forefront of culinary development and research, but so as to keep it relevant to the changing fashions and demands of the consumer.

Unlike many academic experts Ray has practiced this philosophy across the entire range of food establishments, un-abashed by ill-informed criticism, and without pandering to the artificial requirements of many so-called food awards, he has worked tirelessly to bring his vision of making quality food available to the paying masses in a way that they can appreciate.

His story is well known to Mr Cooper and it it is hoped that jealous parties have been prevented from infiltrating the selection committee this year, where they have so often prevented Mr Gunge from receiving deserved and much over-due recognition.

His story should be dramatized and re-told on BBC radio.

Think about it, and God bless!

Published selected episodes from the life of Ray Gunge sold out, but discerning and appreciative readers will no doubt manage to get a copy of this well written account.