On Mon, Feb 13, 2012 at 9:00 AM, Dr. David Kirkby <david.kir...@onetel.net> wrote: > On 02/13/12 04:32 PM, William Stein wrote: >> >> On Mon, Feb 13, 2012 at 7:42 AM, Dr. David Kirkby >>> >>> But currently SPKG.txt and COPYING state version 2 only. >>> >>> >>> SPKG.txt for Mercurial states >>> >>> "== License == >>> * GNU General Public License version 2, or any later version >>> " >>> >>> but the COPYING file does not state "or any later version". Some programs >>> do (like znpoly), but Mercurial does not. Nor does gfan - despite you say >>> you know different. Nor does the COPYING file in 'moin', though SPKG.txt >>> says it is "GPLv2+". >>> >> >> That does not matter. > > > Why does it not matter?
Do you understand the following statement?: The COPYING file is something provided by FSF. It is not modified by the author of the code. > > >>> Note, that an author has to add the "or any later version" for it to >>> become applicable. Unless that is specifically stated, it you can't apply >>> it. >> >> >> I think you are just making that up. From the GPL: "If the Program >> does not specify a version number of this License, you may choose any >> version ever published by the Free Software Foundation." > > > I'm not making it up. > > If someone writes "This program is released under the GPL", and does not > state a version, then you are correct that you are able to apply any version > you want. > > However, if a version is stated, as it it with moinmoin, gfan, Mercurial, > then you can't just add the "any later" bit if you chose to. > > Take Moinmoin for example. As that is currently in Sage, the license says at > the top: Moinmoin is GPLv2+. The file moin-1.9.1.p2/src/moin/README says "This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version." They then include the file COPYING that is distributed by the FSF, which you keep quoting from. > > > GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE > Version 2, June 1991 > > further down we read > > > 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. > > Clearly in this case moinmoin has > > 1) Stated a version (version 2, June 1991) Nope. > 2) Has not stated "or any later version" Nop.e > 3) Has not just stated "the GPL" and not given a version. Nope. > In that case, it is just version 2. But other code is just version 3. The > two are incompatible. Nope. > > >> I would be very appreciate if you could provide even a shred of >> evidence that supports your opinion that: "IMHO, if you want to be >> totally legal, then you should not use Sage." I know of absolutely no >> copyright issues with the current Sage distribution. If I were aware >> of any violations, I would address them ASAP. > > > I've provided more than a shred of evidence. Not a single shred. Can you please read [1] very carefully, then reconsider your position? [1] http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-howto.html > > > Dave > > -- > To post to this group, send an email to sage-devel@googlegroups.com > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to > sage-devel+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/sage-devel > URL: http://www.sagemath.org -- William Stein Professor of Mathematics University of Washington http://wstein.org -- To post to this group, send an email to sage-devel@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to sage-devel+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/sage-devel URL: http://www.sagemath.org
