On 2011-04-06 14.08, HB-GRAL wrote: > - Do other contributors of the origin repo have the right to change my > origin licence assignment from GPLv2 to GPLv3, when they just pull and > push the same code? (I really think: No.)
I think anyone has the right to redistribute the code under GPLv3 if there is a "GPLv2 or later" statement in the original license. A "GPLv2 only" clause may block redistribution under GPLv3, I do not know and really I do not care. Pulling all fg related material under "GPLv2 or later" license and pushing to another repository, i.e. forking, and changing the license to GPLv3 is legal. Pulling the material from the repo and simply pushing it back to the same repository may pose interesting legal questions. Can such an act be considered redistribution? Is a redistribution required to change license to GPLv3? The legality is really irrelevant because making such a move without the consent of the authors of code under "GPLv2 and later" will probably alienate contributors. The fg project should avoid making license changes without the consent of authors in the repositories it controls, but the fg project cannot prohibit 3rd parties from actually changing their redistribution license to GPLv3 (if "GPLv2 or later" was used originally). A resolution maybe be that all contributors to single files agrees to revoke "or later" from each single file (note, all contributors must agree or the file must be replaced with independent art). As time goes by new improved code in the GPLv2 only files will supersede the files with loose "GPLv2 or later" clauses and deem the files obsolete. Open source GPL contributors should remember, we _choose_ to release our work under GPL. The GPL ideology is to keep the "or later" clause. Why fight it? If the GPL way of licensing is not for you then you should find another license that fits your needs and optimally it is GPL friendly so that files/code can co-exist. I heard the argument: This project is so cool, I want to contribute but I don't like the license. Well, then this project is obviously not for you. Remember, many times the coolness comes because of GPL. I agree that files in fg controlled repositories that were changed by accident from GPLv2 to v3 should be restored to the original license. Cheers, Jari ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Xperia(TM) PLAY It's a major breakthrough. An authentic gaming smartphone on the nation's most reliable network. And it wants your games. http://p.sf.net/sfu/verizon-sfdev _______________________________________________ Flightgear-devel mailing list Flightgear-devel@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/flightgear-devel
