> -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:rsyslog- > [email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] > Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 9:44 PM > To: rsyslog-users > Subject: Re: [rsyslog] update on rsyslog licensing and funding > > If the licensign text for rsyslog clearly states that the authors of > rsyslog do not consider plugins to be defivitive works of rsyslog, that > basically makes it so that even if someone tries to claim that the GPL > did > apply to the plugin, anyone could point to that statement and any judge > would dismiss the case (I think the legal term is enstopple, basically > you > can't give people permission to do something and then sue them for > doing > it) > > some people call this an 'exception', but usually the people granting > the > 'exception' consider it common sense. > > with linux you have the 'userspace exception' that says that software > running in userspace and using the standard system calls is not > considered > a derived work of the linux kernel. Most people consider this an > obvious > truth that doesn't really matter, but the fact that it has been clearly > stated for a long time means that nobody can now claim otherwise. > > I belive that you have had a similar statement in place about the > plugins > for a long time, so it's not that it takes creative thinking to make > plugins not be required to be GPL licensed, but it takes creative > thinking > to justify ignoring that statement and claiming that they are required > to > be under the GPL.
I have searched the various documents (the past days and now again). While they express that we consider plugins as separate projects and don't care about their licensing, the exact text is somewhat weak. I agree, at least under German law, that this probably comes close enough to an exception. On the other hand, the ultimate answer can only be found in court (at least under German law, where a judge would need to interpret the statements). This level of uncertainty, how small it may be, drives some potential users away. We have actually seen this happen and it was a big loss for the project. With the licensing change, we try to solve, or at least reduce that uncertainty. That's also why I wrote that I think the situation does not change so much over how it is right now. Rainer > David Lang > > On Fri, 13 Jan 2012, Rainer Gerhards wrote: > > > Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:38:40 +0100 > > From: Rainer Gerhards <[email protected]> > > Reply-To: rsyslog-users <[email protected]> > > To: rsyslog-users <[email protected]> > > Subject: Re: [rsyslog] update on rsyslog licensing and funding > > > > Hi all, > > > > I created some confusion if the rsyslog project stays under GPLv3 > with > > yesterday's post. In fact, it does! I wrote a new posting today in > the hope > > to clarify some things: > > > > http://blog.gerhards.net/2012/01/rsyslog-will-remain-gplv3- > licensed.html > > > > Rainer > > > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: [email protected] [mailto:rsyslog- > >> [email protected]] On Behalf Of Rainer Gerhards > >> Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 3:15 PM > >> To: [email protected] > >> Subject: [rsyslog] update on rsyslog licensing and funding > >> > >> Hi all, > >> > >> we had a lengthy discussion last November on rsyslog funding and > >> licensing. > >> At that time, I promised to keep you updated. I have blogged about > the > >> latest > >> state: > >> > >> http://blog.gerhards.net/2012/01/rsyslog-licensing-update.html > >> > >> Feedback is appreciated. > >> > >> Rainer > >> _______________________________________________ > >> rsyslog mailing list > >> http://lists.adiscon.net/mailman/listinfo/rsyslog > >> http://www.rsyslog.com/professional-services/ > > _______________________________________________ > > rsyslog mailing list > > http://lists.adiscon.net/mailman/listinfo/rsyslog > > http://www.rsyslog.com/professional-services/ > > > _______________________________________________ > rsyslog mailing list > http://lists.adiscon.net/mailman/listinfo/rsyslog > http://www.rsyslog.com/professional-services/ _______________________________________________ rsyslog mailing list http://lists.adiscon.net/mailman/listinfo/rsyslog http://www.rsyslog.com/professional-services/
