Re: [Dazuko-devel] Licenses

[John Ogness]

Hi Swade,

You said: "especially since the license isn't changing for Linux". The 
license *will* be changing to a BSD license for all platforms. It is 
just that on Linux, the GPL license (from Linux itself) will force 
Dazuko to become GPL. This is ok because the BSD license will still be 
satisfiable as GPL. I just wanted to make sure that you (and others) 
understand that the Dazuko will be completely under a BSD license (even 
if the end-effect for Linux is that it is "forced" to GPL).

You also mentioned running the license change through a legal 
department. I unfortunately do not have one of those handy. :) However, 
I have personally done extensive researching to determine the impact of 
this license switch. I am personally confident that it will help us to 
be where we want to be. I am trying to welcome commercial support, even 
if it means they can make personal tweaks on non-Linux platforms and not 
share those tweaks. I personally feel that the trade-offs benefit the 
vast majority (the Dazuko project included).

I also do not want commercial organizations to be afraid that we will 
later switch the license on them, requiring them to publish their 
tweaks. This would damage our relationship, trust, and future. If we 
decide to later change the license, it would be after the approval from 
many groups, including those whose products are based on Dazuko.

Below I have included the BSD license (which can be found in the Dazuko 
package because the interface is already using this license).

John Ogness

------- BSD License ---------

Copyright (C) 2002-2003, H+BEDV Datentechnik GmbH
All rights reserved.

Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without 
modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:

1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright 
notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.

2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright 
notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the 
documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.

3. Neither the name of Dazuko nor the names of its contributors may be 
used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without 
specific prior written permission.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS 
IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED 
TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A 
PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER 
OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, 
EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, 
PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR 
PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF 
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING 
NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS 
SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.


S Wade wrote:
> It seems like a good idea to me, especially since the license isn't 
> changing for Linux. I don't like the idea of changes not getting back to 
> us, but I imagine people, if not companies, would rather have the dazuko 
> team's support and input on their changes rather than hording them. And 
> since these new platforms won't be supported overnight, that will give 
> us a chance to try them on one at a time and possibly adopt a different 
> license if needed.
>
> Do you have an address handy for the text of the current BSD license?
>
> However, any company I worked for wouldn't touch a license change 
> without running it through the legal department. Can we do something 
> similar?
>
> Swade
>
> > From: John Ogness <address@hidden>
> > Reply-To: address@hidden
> > To: address@hidden
> > Subject: [Dazuko-devel] Licenses
> > Date: Sun, 18 May 2003 14:07:57 +0200
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > I guess I should have anticipated this topic from the start. If Dazuko 
> > wants to evolve to be a cross-platform standard, it needs a license 
> > that will permit this. Unfortunately, the GPL license would make 
> > things very difficult (if not impossible) for MacOS X, FreeBSD, 
> > Solaris, and Windows integration. I understand and respect the GPL, 
> > however I feel it will hinder Dazuko from becoming a cross-platform 
> > standard for file access control.
> >
> > I would like to move Dazuko to a BSD license (just as I have already 
> > done with the interface). On Linux, this shouldn't change anything. 
> > When Dazuko is built using the Linux source, it will fall under the 
> > GPL license (which is ok, because the GPL also satisfies BSD). This 
> > means that Dazuko under Linux will still be GPL'd (as it is 
> > currently), but it also means that under other operating systems it 
> > will BSD. This will even satisfy Microsoft licensing.
> >
> > What is the downside? It would mean that on non-Linux operating 
> > systems, organizations could make changes to Dazuko and not be 
> > required to display or recommit their changes. I, however, feel that 
> > this is a minor issue and that Dazuko would not become a platform for 
> > organizational disputes and competitions.
> >
> > Before moving Dazuko to a BSD license, I would like to get some 
> > feedback about it. I will also be contacting the other developers to 
> > get their specific input:
> >     Andre Duclos
> >     Danilo Massa
> >     Steve Wade
> >
> > With the DazukoXP middle layer well underway, a FreeBSD port of Dazuko 
> > is sure to come soon. I don't want to get tangled in licensing issues 
> > when we get there.
> >
> > John Ogness
> >
> > --
> > Dazuko Maintainer

--
Dazuko Maintainer