License Proliferation

[Matthew Seth Flaschen]

Russel originally said that the GPL splits the developer community into two groups.  This is correct.  One group can use GPL code(those who license their own code GPL) and one can not(everyone else).  However, similar splits occur with most licenses except weak, effectively public domain licenses(i.e BSD).  I certainly don't have a problem with these splits in general, as they are an intended product of the licenses.   Perhaps Russell does.  I can't speak for him.

-Matt Flaschen


> On Sep 5, 2005, at 6:39 AM, Russell Nelson wrote:
> 
> > Matthew Seth Flaschen writes:
> >> Russell Nelson wrote:
> >>
> >>> None of which contradicts my point that the GPL splits the free
> >>> software community into users of licenses compatible with the GPL, 
> >>> and
> >>> users of licenses incompatible with the GPL.
> >>>
> >> So does every other license, a fact that you oddly failed to mention.
> >
> > It *is* odd that I didn't mention it.
> 
> What are you both saying here?  I can't interpret the last two 
> sentences in
> any way that evaluates to true. Is that a guru meditation error on my 
> part?
> 
> You mean if there wouldn't be any other licenses other than the GPL then
> the software community would not be split? That would be a very 
> Orwellian
> point of view indeed.
> 
> Chris
>