Copyleft/guide Changeset - 10b0ade5d5a0

Changeset - 10b0ade5d5a0

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Bradley Kuhn (bkuhn) - 10 years ago 2014-03-20 17:12:54
bkuhn@ebb.org

Rewrote this sentence for tutorial context.

1 file changed with 25 insertions and 21 deletions:

gpl-lgpl.tex

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@@ ... @@
 \medskip
 \label{GPLv2s2-at-no-charge}
 The next phrase of note in GPLv2~\S2(b) is ``licensed \ldots at no charge.''
 This phrase  confuses many.  The sloppy reader points out this as ``a
 contradiction in GPL'' because (in their confused view) that clause of GPLv2~\S2 says that redistributors cannot
@@ ... / @@ -2736,32 +2737,35 @@ services for the support of that software. @@
 \section{GPLv3~\S5: Modified Source}
 \label{GPLv3s5}
 % FIXME: 5(a) is slightly different in final version
 Section 5 contains a number of changes relative to the corresponding section
 in GPLv2. Subsection 5a slightly relaxes the requirements regarding notice of
 changes to the program. In particular, the modified files themselves need no
 longer be marked. This reduces administrative burdens for developers of
 modified versions of GPL'd software.
 GPLv3\S5 is the rewrite of GPLv2\S2, which was discussed in \S~\ref{GPLv2s2}
 of this tutorial.  This section discusses the changes found in GPLv3\S5
 compared to GPLv2\S2.
 GPLv3\S5(a) still requires modified versions be marked with ``relevant
 date'', but no longer says ``the date of any change''.  The best practice is
 to include the date of the latest and/or most significant changes and who
 made those.  Of course, compared to its GPLv2\S2(a), GPLv3\S5(a) slightly
 relaxes the requirements regarding notice of changes to the program.  In
 particular, the modified files themselves need no longer be marked.  This
 reduces administrative burdens for developers of modified versions of GPL'd
 software.
 Under subsection 5a, as in the corresponding provision of GPLv2, the notices
 must state ``the date of any change,'' which we interpret to mean the date of
 one or more of the licensee's changes.  The best practice would be to include
 the date of the latest change.  However, in order to avoid requiring revision
 of programs distributed under ``GPL version 2 or later,'' we have retained
 the existing wording.
 % FIXME:  It's now (b) and (c).  Also, ``validity'' of proprietary
 %         relicensing?  Give me a break.  I'll fix that.
 Subsection 5b is the central copyleft provision of the license.  It now
 states that the GPL applies to the whole of the work.  The license must be
 unmodified, except as permitted by section 7, which allows GPL'd code to be
 combined with parts covered by certain other kinds of free software licensing
 terms. Another change in subsection 5b is the removal of the words ``at no
 charge,'' which was often misinterpreted by commentators.  The last sentence
 of subsection 5b explicitly recognizes the validity of disjunctive
 dual-licensing.
 GPLv3\S5(c) is the primary source-code-related copyleft provision of GPL (The
 object-code-related copyleft provisions are in GPLv3\S6, discussed in
 \S~\ref{GPLv3s6} of this tutorial).  Compared to GPLv2\S2(b), GPLv3\S5(c)
 states that the GPL applies to the whole of the work.  Such was stated
 already in GPLv2\S2(b), in ``in whole or in part'', but this simplified
 wording makes it clear the entire covered work
 GPLv3\S5(c) notes that the license text itself must be unmodified (except as
 permitted by GPLv3\S7.. Another change in GPLv3\S5(c) is the removal of the
 words ``at no charge,'' which was often is misunderstood upon na\"{i}ve
 reading of in GPLv2\S(b) (as discussed in \S~\ref{GPLv2s2-at-no-charge} of this
 tutorial).
 %  FIXME: 5d.  Related to Appropriatey Legal notices

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