> > What does this have to do with free software? On Fri, May 14, 2004 at 12:11:14AM +0100, MJ Ray wrote: > Free software licences should not contaminate other software, remember?
I agree -- and maybe I'm stupid, but I don't see a contamination mechanism here. All I see is statements saying disclaiming software patents and software patent litigation. I see no statements saying that software patents have any validity. The closest is a statement dumping responsibility for any patents on the person adding the patented stuff to the software -- and that requires that the person doing so grant a license to use that patent. Now, granted, if there is some specific patent associated with this software that makes it non-free, that would be a problem. But that seems to be outside the scope of the license itself. If someone adds some such patented component to some BSD licensed software, we'd have the same problem -- if not a worse one. [Our users would be at more risk in the case of a BSD licensed work.] Can you point me at a contaminating mechanism which isn't also present in a BSD license? Thanks, -- Raul
