[AuckLUG] GPL 3 - The Real Deal

[Martin Bähr]

On Thu, May 31, 2007 at 01:49:58PM +1200, Josh Tarchuk wrote:
> Why is a revision to a popular software license front-page news?

the GPL is the most popular free software license.
it has not been updated for 15! years.
its update is not just a minor rewording but a substantial improvement
that focuses on protecting the users rights. 

this need to protect users rights is what's newsworthy.
the fact that the GPL version 2 is no longer enough to protect those
rights is what makes this event significant.

> AFAIK any code released under a prior version of this license isn't
> automagically 'upgraded' to the newest version.

many projects licensed under the GPL contain the clause:
"this is licensed under the GPL version 2 or any later version"

any such project can be upgraded to gpl 3.
all code where the FSF has the copyright will surely be upgraded. (that
includes critical tools like the gcc and a lot of popular tools like
bash and many others)

greetings, martin.
-- 
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Martin Bähr       http://www.iaeste.or.at/~mbaehr/