Question Regarding Derived Works

[Brian Behlendorf]

On Tue, 1 Mar 2005, Chuck Swiger wrote:
> However, if you provide documentation which claims your source code is 
> RFC-1234 compliant, and you request that any modified version retain RFC-1234 
> compliance, you'll probably find that most people will be happy to cooperate.

You can also model your license after the SISSL, or use the SISSL itself. 
The SISSL says, essentially, "Defined here are some standards this 
software implements.  If your derivative work of this software implements 
these standards faithfully and correctly, you may license this derivative 
work under the license of your choosing.  If you are not compliant, you 
must release the source of your derivative work under this license".  That 
allows downstream licensees of your non-compliant derivative work the 
ability to correct your mistakes.

I think it's a brilliant license, most useful for those organizations 
worried about proprietary and non-conformant derivative works.  The flaws 
lie in policing, determining objectively whether a derivative work is 
compliant or not.  Standards documents have a funny way of being 
misinterpreted....

 	Brian