For Approval: Simple Public License (SimPL)

[Matthew Flaschen]

Richard Fontana wrote:
> Jim Sfekas wrote:
>> The SimPL has the same compatibility with other licenses as GPL, with all
>> the good and bad that that entails.  It should, therefore, be compatible
>> with GPL, LGPL, X11 License, etc. 
> 
> It can't be compatible with the GPL, because it has its own copyleft
> provision:

Not exactly.  It could explicitly allow relicensing (which makes sense
if it's supposed to be a reimplementation).

> Also,
>> The SimPL continues perpetually, except it ends automatically if:
> [...]
>> - A patent holder prevents you from distributing the software under the
>> terms of the SimPL.
> 
> This is more restrictive than GPLv2 section 7 (on which it is presumably
> modeled).

Yes.  It should say that it only ends for a particular distributor, and
only if the patent issue prevents compliance with the license.  However,
this clause is weaker than GPL 7 in some ways since it doesn't take into
account other reasons for non-compliance.

Matthew Flaschen