Re: BSD license vs. Evolution assigment (was Re: Copyright assignment)



On Fri, 2004-08-06 at 11:07 -0700, Jeff Waugh wrote:
> <quote who="Rui Miguel Seabra">
>
> > Aren't you taking a lot of things for granted?
> > 
> >     In exchange for your grant of copyright, Ximian does two things.
> >     First, we promise to use the GPL or another Debian-endorsed Free
> >     license for your code (although we may also grant other licenses on
> >     other terms).
> > 
> > After passing the BS filter:
> > 
> >     In exchange for your grant of copyright, Ximian does two things.
> >     First, we promise to use any license we choose to.
> 
> Your BS filter is broken. It means: Your code will always be released under
> the GPL or another Debian-endorsed Free license, AS WELL AS (!!!) any other
> license we choose to.
>
> What, precisely, is wrong with that?

Nothing, except that you don't get it. It's not "as well as" (meaning
dual-license) but instead. The paper you sign is what counts and it is
much clearer. It even has one point where it has the unfiltered part:
1.c).

I encourage anyone who minimally cares to read the text instead of
blindingly put faith in your words:

http://developer.ximian.com/projects/evolution/copyright_form.pdf

  1.a) includes documentation.
  1.c) shows the BS filtered output
  4. is the pre-BS-filter version

Did you read this form, Waugh, instead of blindingly putting faith in
what a profit based company tells you to honestly believe?

Read at least 1.c) if you don't believe:

    The parties acknowledge and agree that Ximian is, and has all the
    rights of, a copyright owner in the assigned copyrights (subject to
                                                          [1]^^^^^^^^^^
    the license grantback to Developer stated above) including the right
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^[1]
    to enforce the copyright and the right to use, license and
                                                [2]^^^^^^^[2]
    distribute the Works, or any work that in whole or in part
    incorporates or is derived from all or part of the Works, with the
    Program enhanced thereby or as stand-alone modules, all as made or
    acquired by Developer or in modified form. Ximian may charge a fee
    of its choosing for the service of distribution, and allow others to
    do the same.

[1] only talks about the grant back of the incorporated contribution to
the submitting developper
[2] here's the no BS part, remember that in 4. they say ay free software
license or any other license.

This looks like an attempt at circunventing the intentions expressed by
the GPL (all who get software get it as Free Software), in the case of
Evolution...

Rui

-- 
+ No matter how much you do, you never do enough -- unknown
+ Whatever you do will be insignificant,
| but it is very important that you do it -- Gandhi
+ So let's do it...?

Please AVOID sending me WORD, EXCEL or POWERPOINT attachments.
See http://www.fsf.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html

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