On Wednesday 17 January 2018 09:27:25 Dave Cole wrote: > The text below is at the end of the SOEM page from the link below. > https://openethercatsociety.github.io/doc/soem/index.html > > So how does this work?? The SOEM software itself is GPL, but if you > implement an Ethercat master, you need to get a license ?? > > That's an interesting approach. > > If the SOEM code is all GPL, then how could adding GPL code to GPL > code result in something other than GPL code ? > > From a practical standpoint, I think we need to figure out how to get > networked drives connected to LinuxCNC if we want LinuxCNC to live on. > At some point analog servo drive interfaces will become like 5 1/4" > floppy drives... They were once common. > > Dave > > > > SOEM is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under > the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as published by > the Free Software Foundation. > That says it all since the GPLv2, the last time I read it, did not allow further restrictions. But just to keep the legal types under control, I think I'd want to see a court precedence judgement saying so.
Fork it, changing its name so as not to clash with their trademarks seems like the best way forward. > SOEM is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT > ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or > FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License > for more details. > > As a special exception, if other files instantiate templates or use > macros or inline functions from this file, or you compile this file > and link it with other works to produce a work based on this file, > this file does not by itself cause the resulting work to be covered by > the GNU General Public License. However the source code for this file > must still be made available in accordance with section (3) of the GNU > General Public License. > > This exception does not invalidate any other reasons why a work based > on this file might be covered by the GNU General Public License. > > The EtherCAT Technology, the trade name and logo "EtherCAT" are the > intellectual property of, and protected by Beckhoff Automation GmbH. > You can use SOEM for the sole purpose of creating, using and/or > selling or otherwise distributing an EtherCAT network master provided > that an EtherCAT Master License is obtained from Beckhoff Automation > GmbH. > > In case you did not receive a copy of the EtherCAT Master License > along with SOEM write to Beckhoff Automation GmbH, Eiserstrasse 5, > D-33415 Verl, Germany (www.beckhoff.com). > > > <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< > > On 1/16/2018 8:51 PM, Jeff Epler wrote: > > Our policy is that any code added to LinuxCNC has to be compatible > > with the license terms "GPL version 2 or any later version". > > https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#GPLCompatibleLicenses > > > > Anything that imposes a restriction on how the software can be used > > (for example, if it is claimed that using the software requires an > > additional license, as Beckhoff Automation GmbH reportedly does) > > cannot be incorporated. > > > > For a rather old thread on exactly the same topic, see this one from > > 2013: > > https://sourceforge.net/p/emc/mailman/emc-developers/thread/20131022 > >150751.GB2631%40unpythonic.net/ > > > > Jeff > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > >---------- Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's > > most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot > > _______________________________________________ > > Emc-developers mailing list > > Emc-developers@lists.sourceforge.net > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-developers > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >-------- Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's > most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot > _______________________________________________ > Emc-developers mailing list > Emc-developers@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-developers Cheers, Gene Heskett The above content, added by Maurice E. Heskett, is Copyright 2018 by Maurice E. Heskett. -- "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." -Ed Howdershelt (Author) Genes Web page <http://geneslinuxbox.net:6309/gene> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ Emc-developers mailing list Emc-developers@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-developers
