[ros-dev] GPLv3 Migration - flamewar warning

[Jeff Smith]

Steven Edwards wrote:
> Hi,
> I've been inactive for a while and most likely will be so for a while
> however I thought this would be a good time to bring up the GPLv3 due
> to its recent release. Does anyone have any objections to license as
> it stands now? If you've not had a chance to review it I suggest you
> do so. I am happy to help answer any questions regarding the license
> as I did take part in early drafting on behalf of the ReactOS and Wine
> Projects although I am not a lawyer and anything I say should be at
> least reviewed by the SFLC or your own lawyers.
>
> It is my suggestion that if there are no objections then we start to
> contact each developer requesting them to dual license existing code
> as GPLv2/GPLv3 and use the same tracking system as the audit system to
> do the migration.
>
> ReactOS has never been really clear on the "or later version" clause
> in the GPL. The ReactOS license includes the text and the license
> number is not specified in most of the ReactOS sources, though I don't
> think it would be fair to simply take all of the source and re-license
> it without some discussions and a vote.
>
> It would also be possible to distribute ReactOS under both licenses
> via dual licensing as a possible compromise if a dispute arises. This
> would mean if some third party (Third Party A) wants to take ReactOS
> enhance it and then resell it, they would not have to worry about
> another third party (Third Party B) taking their modifications and
> redistributing them for profit without the patent protections of the
> GPLv3 and the Anti-Tivoization clauses. The only downside to this is
> if Third Party A is only making changes under GPLv3 then those changes
> could not go back in to ReactOS trunk. I don't think this is a major
> issue, as I expect both third parties to be proprietary vendors making
> enhancements that the Project might not want/need in the trunk in any
> case. Third Party A in the interest of keeping forking to a minimal
> would still send bug fixes back up both licenses.
>
>
> Thanks
>
>   
I'm not going to pretend I'm familiar with GPL V3, but if memory serves 
Linus Torvalds had issues with this atleast at the start, have these 
been taken care of or do those concerns effect ReactOS? -Beta-guy