Re: [gNewSense-users] KFV check-in

[Peter and Jesse]

On Fri, 2008-04-04 at 19:01 -0400, Bake Timmons wrote:
> > In drivers/media/dvb/b2c2 there there's a file that states "either
> > version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version." I
> > just put this as GPLv2 or later. OK?
> 
> The "2.1" raises a red flag for me--I recall the LGPL having this
> version, but not the GPL.  Even if you meant LGPL, you must state
> LGPLv2.1 or later--no two ways about it given your quote.
> 
Sorry, you're right. I wasn't paying attention.

> 
> > Also, there were files that were under the LGPL but didn't specify the
> > version. Presumably, we do the same with these as with the files that
> > are under the GPL but don't give the version. But if we call the
> > unspecified GPLs version 2, what do we call the unspecified LPGLs?
> > I'm not sure we really need to get into these kinds of details. All we
> > are doing is verifying that the kernel is free, right? And all versions
> > of the GPL and the LGPL are free, so does it really matter what version
> > they are?
> 
> Yes, the LGPL uses the same "any version" language.  IMO, there are
> three answers to the unspecified GPL question: (1) "GPL" or perhaps "GPL
> (no version specified)", (2) GPLv2, and (3) write the author and use his
> answer.  Since Torvalds has never commented on the LGPL version, I would
> say (1) "LGPL" or perhaps "LGPL (no version specified)" or (2) write the
> author...

I'm a little confused about this write the author business. Because the
GPL (and the LGPL) say that if no version is specified then it can use
any of them, it seems to me that that is kind of like specifying a
version. For example, if I wanted to write code that could be used with
any version of the GPL, I might choose to not specify the version. And
if we do contact the author and he gives us the version, we can publish
it, but it still won't be in the original code. If he can just decide
whenever he's asked, couldn't he change his mind later?
Anyway, I'd be happy to email the authors if that's what we want to do.

 Peter