[MUD-Dev] code base inquiry

[Travis Casey]

On Wednesday, November 17, 1999, Matthew D. Fuller wrote:

> On Wed, Nov 17, 1999 at 06:01:30PM -0500, a little birdie told me
> that Travis Casey remarked

>> Now, let's say that I write a codebase and distribute it under the
>> GPL.  You then modify my codebase and start distributing your modified
>> version.  I then decide to stop using the GPL and make my codebase
>> commercial.  I still own copyright on the code you're using -- and
>> hence, can legally revoke your right to distribute it.  Now, you
>> *might* be able to still distribute the code you wrote, but you
>> can't distribute any part of the codebase that you didn't modify.  And
>> even if you modified all of it, it might still count as a derivative
>> work, in which case you wouldn't be able to distribute it without my
>> permission.

> Well, from a glance at a copy of COPYING in my system...

>   6. Each time you redistribute the Program (or any work based on the
> Program), the recipient automatically receives a license from the
> original licensor to copy, distribute or modify the Program subject to
> these terms and conditions.  You may not impose any further
> restrictions on the recipients' exercise of the rights granted herein.
> You are not responsible for enforcing compliance by third parties to
> this License.

> I think it *DOES*.

Note the word "redistribute."  The original creator is *distributing*
the program, not *redistributing* it, so this does not apply to him or
her.  As far as I can see, all this does is prevent anyone *except* the
originator from changing the terms of the license.

--
       |\      _,,,---,,_        Travis S. Casey  <efindel at io.com>
 ZZzz  /,`.-'`'    -.  ;-;;,_   No one agrees with me.  Not even me.
      |,4-  ) )-,_..;\ (  `'-'
     '---''(_/--'  `-'\_)





_______________________________________________
MUD-Dev maillist  -  MUD-Dev at kanga.nu
http://www.kanga.nu/lists/listinfo/mud-dev