19 Apr
2006
19 Apr
'06
8:09 p.m.
Patrick Shirkey wrote:
Nick Copeland wrote:
I'm looking at the sources for LS and the only license I see there is
the GPL, so AFAICT there's been no change in license. However, in the
README we find this gem :
"The LinuxSampler library (liblinuxsampler) and its applications are
distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (see
COPYING file), but with the EXCEPTION that they may NOT be used in
COMMERCIAL software or hardware products without prior written
authorization by the authors."
I read through their COPYING, it's the 1991 version of the license (v.2,
not 2.1). I can't find anything that expressly denies the authors their
right to make this exception, but it is contrary to the first of the
FSF's Four Freedoms:
The freedom to run the program, for any purpose.
I suppose we can start splitting hairs over the essential differences
between using a program and running a program. Anyway, I think this is
where things get shaky between LS and the GPL.
What I want to say is the migration of Linux Sampler from GPL to any
other form of license is just a recognition of a massive shift in the
market, and perhaps something that GPL needs to come to terms with.
It's a good point that you raise and I know Mark is well aware of this
given his work history ;) I think the people who wrote the GPL had a pretty fair
idea of the
multinational corporate environment when they wrote the License.
Maybe not.
I find it strange that Mark is willing to use the
other completely
proprietry apps but not LS simply because they have a small clause in
their license which demands commercial companies get their permission
before embedding the code.
Well, it appears to violate the spirit if not the letter of the GPL.
Mark's central objection, IIRC, was that he didn't want to donate code
to a project that wasn't fully compliant with the GPL. I don't see this
as a conflict with his decision to use proprietary software, it's a
different contract.
But it also seems strange that they haven't been
taken to task for
altering the GPL. That is definitely illegal AFAIK. Doesn't the BSD
license cover their needs?
Again, they haven't altered the GPL. They've included a clause in the
README that is provocative to GPL hard-liners and is *possibly* illegal.
IANAL.
The sooner this issue is resolved, the better for everyone. Frank
Neumann needs some assistance with a file format problem in LS, but he
needs help from someone who already runs GigaSampler...
Best,
dp