[Fwd: FW: For Approval: Generic Attribution Provision]

[Brian Behlendorf]

On Wed, 13 Dec 2006, Matthew Flaschen wrote:
> Brian Behlendorf wrote:
>> There are an unfortunate number of Open Source projects where
>> contributions from people who are not the primary authors are nil
>
> I don't really see that as unfortunate.  Open source is meant to allow
> modified versions and outside contribution, not to force and perhaps not
> even to strongly encourage them.

Sure.  But when people complain "what does a badgeware provision do for 
ME" and accuse the licensor of creating unfair advantages and discounting 
the value of incenting contributions or derivative works, we can at least 
understand the rationale.  I consider that unfortunate, personally, but am 
willing to swallow my idealism - that allowing badgeware to carry the 
label "Open Source" might be better for the world than creating a 
big schism, and consuming passion and energy on a distinction that doesn't 
really affect fundamental freedoms we value about Open Source.

 	Brian