Kuno Woudt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > On Sun, Mar 13, 2005 at 03:30:28PM +0100, M�ns Rullg�rd wrote: >> Arnoud Engelfriet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >> >> > And probably it will also deal with running the code on a publicly >> > accessible server. >> >> The question is if a license based on copyright can legally place such >> restrictions on use of the program. > > Some idea of how the FSF may attempt this can be seen from the Affero > General Public License. Apparantly the Affero GPL is a modified version > of the GNU GPL, it adds Section 2(d): > > * d) If the Program as you received it is intended to interact with > users through a computer network and if, in the version you received, > any user interacting with the Program was given the opportunity to > request transmission to that user of the Program's complete source > code, you must not remove that facility from your modified version of > the Program or work based on the Program, and must offer an > equivalent opportunity for all users interacting with your Program > through a computer network to request immediate transmission by HTTP > of the complete source code of your modified version or other > derivative work.
This appears to only apply to self-distributing programs. If the program does not have a send-the-source function, I don't see any requirement that source be provided to users of a service based on the program. > It also adds an "interesting" twist on the "or later" thing often used > with the GPLv2: > > Affero Inc. may publish revised and/or new versions of the Affero > General Public License from time to time. Such new versions will be > similar in spirit to the present version, but may differ in detail to > address new problems or concerns. I've always wondered what "similar in spirit" is supposed to mean. AFAIK, that phrase has no established legal interpretation. > 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 > Affero, Inc. If the Program does not specify a version number of this > License, you may choose any version ever published by Affero, Inc. This looks similar to the language used in the GNU GPL. > You may also choose to redistribute modified versions of this program > under any version of the Free Software Foundation's GNU General Public > License version 3 or higher, so long as that version of the GNU GPL > includes terms and conditions substantially equivalent to those of this > license. It would be interesting to see the reaction of these people, if the GNU GPLv3 does not include a source-for-service clause, after all. -- M�ns Rullg�rd [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
