Free Software Foundation Begins Rewriting the GPL

Robert writes "The first update to the GNU General Public License in 15 years has begun. Details about the process and guidelines by which it will be updated by the Free Software Foundation, and the free/open source community at large, are now available. The FSF has announced plans to release the first draft of the new license for comment at a conference to be held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in mid-January 2006." From the article: "This is the first time the GPL has been open to a public development process. Stallman created version 1 himself in 1985 and introduced version 2 in 1991 after taking legal advice and collecting developer opinion. The rapid adoption of Linux and hundred of other software products licensed under the GPL makes the development of GPLv3 a significant event, and one that is now likely to involve some of the biggest vendors in the industry, with Hewlett-Packard, Novell, and Red Hat already having declared their intention to participate."

Why does Linux make this important?

[N3Roaster]

I keep reading about this, and I can never figure why the rapid adoption of Linux makes GPLv3 important. Sure, there are a lot of projects that use the GPL that allow distribution under the current or any future version of the GPL, but Linux isn't one of them. From /usr/src/linux/COPYING

Also note that the only valid version of the GPL as far as the kernel is concerned is _this_ particular version of the license (ie v2, not v2.2 or v3.x or whatever), unless explicitly otherwise stated.

So what's the Linux connection here?

Re:My First Question

[SComps]

If they don't rewrite it, they'll be forgotten and therefore have no purpose or publicity.

Here in my office we call it busy work.

My vote..

[hackdot]

My vote would be to change the requirement of including to just making sources publicly available. Geez. This has got to be my biggest complaint about Linux distros. They balloon to incredibly huge sizes and a good portion of that is because they have to include the sources. Am I the only one that remembers the old days of a 50MB, usable OS install?

Re:Why does Linux make this important?

[Anonymous Coward]

Ehm, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't many if not the majority of the projects you mention that will be affected run on linux?

Couldn't it be that the success of linux (the kernel) is somehow influenced by the success of open source and free sofware in general and that the GPL plays a major role in this success, or failure?

Couldn't it be that people simply refer to linux not just meaning the kernel, but the whole OS + applications?

Reasons for a rewrite ?

[johnhennessy]

Are there issues with the current GPL that need to be fixed ? Or even some parts that need to be clarified ?

If there are actual issues with the license, then a rewrite is a good thing - all I'm concerned about is that people don't waste time developing a new license when one isn't needed. In the end, its adoption will be decided by the various projects - on a case by case basis, so just because there is a version 3, doesn't guarantee adoption, unless it brings benefits. ... And hopefully it doesn't spawn pro- and anti- GPLv3 wars in every GPLv2 project ! While licensing is important, it shouldn't create huge overheads that distract developers from doing what they do best.

Re:My vote..

[panthro]

Part of the problem with that is that someone could then distribute binaries, presumably for profit of some kind, and make the sources publicly available but hard to obtain. How would you stop someone from, say, obscuring the location of the sources, requiring free registration (read: handing over of e-mail address to spammers) to the site to obtain them, or some other such nonsense? Requiring them to be distributed with the binaries means that the sources are guaranteed to be as easy to obtain as the binaries.

Re:My First Question

[zx75]

Then stick with using GPL v2. But just because it is adequate for your needs, doesn't mean that it neccisarily addresses the concerns of everyone who chooses to use it. Hence the rewrite.

Re:My First Question

[LiquidCoooled]

Doesn't this dilute the skills pot though.

If I see some GPL code, I cannot just use it. I will have to check if its the correct version of GPL before I can bring it in.

This will end in tears.

Re:Reasons for a rewrite ?

[rkcallaghan]

Are there issues with the current GPL that need to be fixed ?

The GPLv2 doesn't properly deal with patent issues, only copyright. Thus, with some legal smoke and mirrors, it is possible to comply with the letter of the GPLv2, gaining free use of other GPLv2 code in the process, while shipping your code/product under patent restrictions, preventing it from being redistrobutable or adjustable freely.

~Rebecca

But that's not an option.

[CyricZ]

Observe that the notice used by much GPL software contains the following:

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

Anyone using the GPL v2 is potentially forced into having their software licensed under the GPL v3, and the GPL v4, and the GPL v5, or any other future version of the GPL.

Even if that particular user wants his program released under only the terms of the GPL v2, if such a notice is included in his software then it may very well be that future versions of the license are applicable.

I disagree

[p3d0]

So I could take slash code (if it's GPL, which I don't recall), hack some changes, and sell access to the website using those changes, and never have to share my code, which violates the spirit of the GPL.

How does this violate the spirit of the GPL? We'd have to ask Mr. Stallman for an official answer, but in my opinion, the GPL was intended to maximize people's freedom with regards to the software they use, and I don't see how forcing web sites to publish their server code enhances anyone's freedom.

We don't need Microsoft to create "FUD"

[CyricZ]

Having talked to various developers, these recent licensing shenanigans have not been particularly good for the open source community.

Many developers wish to make use of open source software, but are getting to the point where they're not sure what exactly they're allowed to do with some particular piece of software.

These developers are not lawyers, and do not want to waste their time trying to figure out fairly complex licenses. Individual consultants and smaller development firms can't necessarily afford to hire a lawyer to verify that they're complying with the terms of all the licenses their project may be subjected to.

I know many professional developers who won't even touch LGPL'ed libraries. They stick with software released under the BSD license, for instance, because it has very clear and concise terms. They know what they can do with such software, and thus can focus on developing solutions, rather than getting bogged down in legal nonsense.

While the GPL v3 may offer some degree of protection with respect to patents, any such benefits may be mitigated by the fact that many developers out there are not interested in becoming lawyers. They don't want to get bogged down trying to interpret relatively complex licenses.

Re:Reasons for a rewrite ?

[TheRaven64]

Someone else hasn't read the GPL. From section 7:

...if a patent license would not permit royalty-free redistribution of the Program by all those who receive copies directly or indirectly through you, then the only way you could satisfy both it and this License would be to refrain entirely from distribution of the Program.

In effect, you must either license the patent royalty-free for derived works of the GPL'd code, or you must not use the GPL. Or, as the preamble puts it:

Finally, any free program is threatened constantly by software patents. We wish to avoid the danger that redistributors of a free program will individually obtain patent licenses, in effect making the program proprietary. To prevent this, we have made it clear that any patent must be licensed for everyone's free use or not licensed at all.

Abuse of the moderation system

[Anonymous Coward]

The only moderation on the parent comment is "-1, Overrated".

Something like "-1, Offtopic" could have been (barely) understandable, but using "-1, Overrated" is just a way to abuse the moderation system and avoid being meta-moderated as unfair.

And by the way, that comment should have been moderated "+1, Informative" or "+1, Insightful".

Re:My First Question

[Bogtha]

Now that more and more applications run simply over the web, with no publishing involved, some people (like RMS) are interested to extend the concept of Free Software to web apps.

The big problem is that this changes the GPL into a EULA. Right now, the GPL doesn't attempt to restrict anything, it merely grants privileges that would not usually be in effect. That's why it's such a strong license.

To change the GPL to include restrictions on how you use the software would seem to run counter to the ideals of Free Software; namely that you are free to use the software as you please. It's also vulnerable to the same criticisms of other EULAs. Basically, the only thing that allows copyright holders to bind you to terms is the fact that you are copying. But copying for the purpose of using the software (e.g. installation) is explicitly not copyright infringement under USA law. That means that if you are merely using the software, the copyright holder has no leverage to bind you to their terms.

Re:I disagree

[Syberghost]

The question is are the users the web site administrator or the web site visitors. I think the argument could be made the users are the web site visitors, so they should have access to the code. They are operating the program, just that they are using a longer wire then your keyboard wire.

This is about like saying that if you come over to visit me in my house, you have the right to paint it.

Re:My vote..

[Kjella]

My vote would be to change the requirement of including to just making sources publicly available. Geez. This has got to be my biggest complaint about Linux distros. They balloon to incredibly huge sizes and a good portion of that is because they have to include the sources. Am I the only one that remembers the old days of a 50MB, usable OS install?

You're aware that most (all?) distros don't include source in their releases? They are typically released on separate source discs which you'd have to go out of your way to download, so they already do what you want. And they have the option to provide a written offer valid for three years instead as well. The distros have "ballooned" to full CDs because they are complete OS and application suites with multiple choices of software? I think the smallest you can get to have a booting system is a Debian business card or there abouts, with a few light apps on top you have a usable install in 50MB. But there's no way you can provide a full KDE or Gnome desktop complete with all major server apps in 50MB, and I don't see the point of trying.

If anything, I think they should remove section b) and c) entirely. If you distribute online, you can offer a separate source download. If you prepackage and distribute it like a box install, you need to include source (a few cents on a CD). The "written offer" is being abused to obscure source code by providing the binaries for easy download, and only deliver source on CD-ROMs after processing time using the manhour cost of burning CDs to discourage people from doing it, like with the Linksys router software.

Re:GPLv3 should bing a provision on fork limitatio

[nuggz]

Why do people think forks are bad?

When two people have two different goals why should we try and force them to work together?

Re:My First Question

[MobyDisk]

You are incorrect.

Copyright law reserves the rights of distribution and modification to the copyright holder.

Copyright does not reserve the right of modification, only distribution. A modification is called a "derived work" but copyright does not prevent you from creating derived works. It only prevents distributing them. And that brings us back to the original problem, which is that if you run your own server then you aren't distributing them.

Re:We don't need Microsoft to create "FUD"

[Shawn is an Asshole]

Yes, it's so much easier to try and understand the license when every singe application and library has it's own license such as on Windows. Who in their right mind would think a choice between ten or so licenses that are clearly explained here [gnu.org] and here [opensource.org] is easier to understand?

GPLv3 != EULA

[ObsessiveMathsFreak]

The big problem is that this changes the GPL into a EULA. Right now, the GPL doesn't attempt to restrict anything, it merely grants privileges that would not usually be in effect. That's why it's such a strong license.

To change the GPL to include restrictions on how you use the software would seem to run counter to the ideals of Free Software; namely that you are free to use the software as you please.

I would disagree with this interpretation.

The GPLv2 has never said anything nor placed restriction on how you use the software. In effect, the GPL only comes into play when you some to redistriute the software, and says that you must redistribute the source code when you distribute the binaries to others.

The GPLv3 again will not say anything or place restriction on how you, you use the software. You're still free to tinker as you please privately and keep the changes to yourself. Again on distribution you must include those changes.

However the GPLv3, in response to potential or actual shenannegans with web deployment, will specify that when you also come to offer your software as a service to users, you must also include the changes to your code, and make them and the original code visible to those users.

This makes a lot of sense. When I run a web app for users acting as thin clients, I'm effectively distributing my program to them. Albiet now the licence is for an extremely limited time, and the calculations are taking place on my machine. However, in effect, a binary of my program has been, however temporarily, placed at the disposal of that one user. They are a user after all. they are "using" the program.

In a way the GPLv3 is a lot better than GPLv2. The GPLv2 only covered the distribution of the binary of the program. GPLv3 covers the service of the program, or more succinctly, the program itself. If you offer the service of the program to someone else, directly, in whatever way, then you must show them your source code. You can see that binaries fall under this definition as well.

Of course companies will try to write wrapper programs to get around this, so that users are not directly using their app, etc, etc, etc. However, I think most won't go to the bother and will just publish their code. After all, how many trade secrets are going to be in your average php/asp page anyway.

It's all about making sure that users are empowered, and that software is both transparent and modifyable to everyone. Stallman originally argued on the grounds of modifyability, which of course is critical to the whole process. But the transparency conferred by this has benefits for the public at large which outweight even the benefits of modifyability. But you need modifyability in order for software to be free. Just having transparency would be like am autocracy having transparency in its government offices. You might be able to see what's going on, but you still can't do anything about it.

Re:We don't need Microsoft to create "FUD"

[real gumby]

That's cool. For some software I use a 3P license and pay a cash royalty; I generally use the compiler-included helper libraries (arithmetic conversions and startup code end the like) without worrying about it, and most of the time of use free code of various stripes. In all of those cases I check the license -- sometimes it's quite enlightening even in the case where you think you paid the developer $25K for a royalty-free buy-out! To me these are all just special cases of the same thing. The fact is that _regardless_ of where the code came from you have to do this checking. If you optimize by finding one or two that happen to work for you, great. The mere existence of someone who chose BSD as the one to standardize on doesn't especially distinguish it -- I can easily point to companies who only use code they pay for, for whatever reason.

By the way I wrote the original (?13 years ago?) draft that became the 1.0 LGPL you mention. John Gilmore suggested to me what turned out to be the most important clause: that you could dynamically link to such a library without having any licensing impact at all. Those terms are more liberal than any cash-royalty license I've ever seen (and don't even include the announcement clause of the BSD license), and made Linux's userland possible.

Re:GPLv3 != EULA

[Arandir]

However, in effect, a binary of my program has been, however temporarily, placed at the disposal of that one user. They are a user after all. they are "using" the program.

You are playing semantic word games. The users of the service are no more using the software than I am using the accounting software of my accountant when he does my taxes. Service is a use, and by regulating servicing, the GPLv3 will be regulating usage. Say goodbye to GPLv2 Clause 0!

This isn't merely the nose of the camel entering the tent, this is RMS putting the camel on a truck and driving it in! Are web servers covered as well? Thankfully Apache will never use the GPLv3, otherwise tens of thousands of websites out there would be liable to provide its source code to anyone who visits their sites. Hell, imagine the legal obligations if I use a v3 licensed GIMP to edit a friend's photos!

When I run a web app for users acting as thin clients, I'm effectively distributing my program to them.

No you are not! "Distribution" has a specific and well understood meaning in copyright law. Before you were playing semantic games, now you're just making up definitions.

Here is a good analogy: a roleplaying game. If give a player a copy of "Tomb of Horrors", it is distribution. If you make a copy of it and give the copy to a player, it is distribution. If you place a copy of it on the web for the player to access, it is distribution. But, if you merely run a group of players through the adventure, it is NOT distribution, even though you are providing the services of the adventure to them.