Re: Reality bites [Was: Evolution copyright assignment: Storm in a teacup]

[Alan Cox <alan lxorguk ukuu org uk>]

On Sad, 2004-08-07 at 00:32, Jeff Waugh wrote:
> Thus, it's very clear that when you contribute to Evolution as an external
> developer, you *KNOW* you are contributing to a Free Evolution (you also
> know that Novell have the right to do whatever they want with the software,
> too).

Suppose you don't want to contribute to the unfree one as well. Also
suppose they give your code back under a non GPL OSI compliant license.
The former is problematic, the latter is a paperwork issue.

> Contributions under this agreement cannot be "un-Freed", regardless of what
> Novell do with their software. We will always have a Free Evolution, we will
> always have our contributions available in a Free Evolution.

Disagree. Third party patents could unfree it via frustration of
contract.

> [ Also, I don't think Novell will change Free licenses, as there would be a
> huge amount of social pressure to keep them using the GPL (instead of the
> CPL or some other OSI license, if they wanted to change for some reason). ]

The contributor can probably force GPL. The contributor can license me a
copy under the GPL then commit it to Evolution. The new owner will be
hard pushed to revoke my existing license before the assignment.

> of contribution to date, other than flames on this mailing list), you would
> not get such a cold reception.

Pots and kettles Jeff.