[Beowulf] which version of the gpl

[Robert G. Brown]

On Mon, 7 Jul 2008, Jon Aquilina wrote:

> what is the difference between version 2 and 3?

In a nutshell:  2 is/was on everything in the gnu universe until about a
year ago, but the gnu lawyers were concerned about a few technical
points so they invented 3 which is marginally stronger.  If you want to
read the whole story GIYF, as always.  I think there is an explanation
on both the FSF site and the Fedora site (at least) and there was even a
discussion on this a year or so ago here that is probably in the list
archives.

    rgb

>
> On 7/7/08, Robert G. Brown <rgb at phy.duke.edu> wrote:
>>
>> On Mon, 7 Jul 2008, Jon Aquilina wrote:
>>
>> im getting ready to start the development of my own clustering distro. im
>>> going to be registering it on lanuchpad.net to help me keep track of bugs
>>> and for users to post suggestions.  how do i determine which version of
>>> the
>>> gpl to use?
>>>
>>
>> The only place you have a choice is in software you write.  A
>> distribution is almost entirely software written by other people, and
>> you will obviously inherit (and be redistributing under) the license
>> each item already has, which "should" be clearly included in the source
>> packages.  If you don't find it, you'll have to try to contact the
>> authors and get them to license it -- there is stuff out there with no
>> overt copyright (leaving the ware covered by a passive one -- new work
>> is copyrighted to the author(s) no matter what, basically) and with no
>> license at all, or with vague statements about who can use it and when.
>> You can opt to include software only with v2, v3, BSD-like, or include
>> shareware or even commercial -- it is your distro, you choose.
>>
>> If you write a packaging system, an installation system, or any
>> NEW clusterware then you can choose your license, and GPL v2 or v3 are
>> fine choices.
>>
>>    rgb
>>
>> --
>> Robert G. Brown                            Phone(cell): 1-919-280-8443
>> Duke University Physics Dept, Box 90305
>> Durham, N.C. 27708-0305
>> Web: http://www.phy.duke.edu/~rgb
>> Book of Lilith Website: http://www.phy.duke.edu/~rgb/Lilith/Lilith.php
>> Lulu Bookstore: http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=877977
>>
>
>
>
>

-- 
Robert G. Brown                            Phone(cell): 1-919-280-8443
Duke University Physics Dept, Box 90305
Durham, N.C. 27708-0305
Web: http://www.phy.duke.edu/~rgb
Book of Lilith Website: http://www.phy.duke.edu/~rgb/Lilith/Lilith.php
Lulu Bookstore: http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=877977