Picking a license

[Ed Keith]

--- On Fri, 5/14/10, Steven D'Aprano <steve at REMOVE-THIS-cybersource.com.au> wrote:

> From: Steven D'Aprano <steve at REMOVE-THIS-cybersource.com.au>
> Subject: Re: Picking a license
> To: python-list at python.org
> Date: Friday, May 14, 2010, 10:59 PM
> 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.
> 
> 

That is why I prefer Boost, which adds very few obligations.



> 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.
> 

Good point.

   -EdK

Ed Keith
e_d_k at yahoo.com

Blog: edkeith.blogspot.com