Picking a license

[Steven D'Aprano]

On Fri, 14 May 2010 06:39:05 -0700, Ed Keith wrote:

> Yes, under the GPL every one has one set of freedoms, under the MIT or
> Boost license every one has more freedoms. Under other licenses they
> have fewer freedoms.

I think this talk about freedoms is dangerously incomplete, and is 
confusing the issue rather than shedding more light. Both licences grant 
the same positive freedoms (freedom to do something). MIT-style licences 
grant permission to:

* make copies of the work;
* make derivative works based on the work; and
* distribute those derivative works to others.

The GPL grants precisely the same three rights. There is no difference in 
the rights granted.

The MIT licence imposes an obligation on the licencee:

* you must include a copy of the licence and copyright notice with the 
work and/or any derivative works.


The GPL adds a further obligation:

* any derivative works must also be licenced under the GPL.


If we want to talk about "freedoms", rather than rights and obligations, 
we need to distinguish between positive freedoms (freedom to do 
something) and negative freedoms (freedoms from something) and not just 
blithely mix them up.


-- 
Steven