On 06/23/10 05:49 PM, Robert Bradshaw wrote:
(v2 code can be used in a v3 project, but not the other
way around).
- Robert
IANAL, but I doubt that is true in all cases.
If someone says the code is "GPL 2", then I don't believe you can necessarily
use it in GLP 3 software.
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.txt
says
"Each version is given a distinguishing version number. If the Program
specifies a version number of this License which applies to it and "any
later version", you have the option of following the terms and conditions
either of that version or of any later version published by the Free
Software Foundation. If the Program does not specify a version number of
this License, you may choose any version ever published by the Free Software
Foundation."
So it only seems to me that you apply the code to GLP 3 if one of the following
3 conditions is met
1) The code is licensed under GPL 3 - obvious that one!
2) The code does not specify a version number of the GPL - in which case you can
use it in GPL 1, 2 or 3.
3) The code specifies version 2 or any later version.
If the code is released under GPL 2, and someone has specified "GPL 2" then you
can not use it in GPL 3 code.
I don't think this "or any later version" can be used unless someone has
specified that, or they have not specified any version number at all.
I thought at one point Sage was pretty strict on this, but that seems to have
been less so of late, and personally I don't have a big problem with that. But
it someone was really bothered, I suspect they could stop you using their code
if they licensed it under the "GPL 2".
As you say, a lot of people do not like GPL 3, so I could see someone arguing
saying "I released my code, stated it was GPL 2 and did not commit to any later
version"
If you think about it, agreeing to "any later version" could be very dangerous.
Theoretically, version 4 of the GPL could state that you need to provide 24/7
technical support, with a response time of 4 hours! By releasing under GPL 2 or
any later version, you would then have agreed to provide 24/7 tech support.
Dave
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