Posted by: Anonymous Coward
on August 05, 2004 01:20 AM
It's not a defect of the GPL, any more than the ability to 'close' BSD code is a defect of the BSD license. The two licenses simply serve similar, but slightly different goals.
The BSD license serves the goal of allowing *anybody* to incorporate a certain set of code into *any* project. It's the ultimate in freedom for developers. End-users, on the other hand, very seldom get to see any of the BSD licensed code they are using, because it is very often incorporated into closed projects.
The GPL serves the goal of allowing *anybody* to see how a particular set of code works and modify it. It's the ultimate in freedom for end-users. Developers on the other hand have to recognize that it means they can't change the license.
Quite simply, if you don't want to use the GPL license for your code, you simply don't use code which was licensed by someone else under the GPL. Just as simply, if you don't want your code to be hidden inside a closed-source project, don't license it under the BSD license.
If you're looking for the best of both worlds, look for code licensed under the LGPL. You can use it in closed-projects (so long as you link to it dynamically), and your end-users get all the same rights to mess with the code that you had.
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Re:Just another GPL zealot looking for freebies.
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on August 05, 2004 01:20 AMThe BSD license serves the goal of allowing *anybody* to incorporate a certain set of code into *any* project. It's the ultimate in freedom for developers. End-users, on the other hand, very seldom get to see any of the BSD licensed code they are using, because it is very often incorporated into closed projects.
The GPL serves the goal of allowing *anybody* to see how a particular set of code works and modify it. It's the ultimate in freedom for end-users. Developers on the other hand have to recognize that it means they can't change the license.
Quite simply, if you don't want to use the GPL license for your code, you simply don't use code which was licensed by someone else under the GPL. Just as simply, if you don't want your code to be hidden inside a closed-source project, don't license it under the BSD license.
If you're looking for the best of both worlds, look for code licensed under the LGPL. You can use it in closed-projects (so long as you link to it dynamically), and your end-users get all the same rights to mess with the code that you had.
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