On Mon, 2004-02-16, 22:17:43 -0500, in <1076987863.15233.27.camel@localhost>, Donnie Berkholz wrote: > We won't be adding versions of XFree86 with the 1.1 license [1] to the > tree, so don't be surprised when 4.3.99.903 doesn't show up with the new > license. > > I won't elaborate on the reasons because it's been discussed quite > thoroughly in other forums [2-8]. > > We are seeking solutions/alternatives for this issue, so you can sit > back, relax and let us do the dirty work. This idea is bound to get a few extreme reactions. Those who insist on reacting extremely may email me privately. Also, I am thinking abstractly at the moment. This is unlikely to present an immediate solution, but will certainly provide some thought-fodder. When you play chess, do you try to see the board from different angles? The problem is that the XFree license and the GPL are now incompatible. For smooth progression of overall Linux development, one of these licenses must now change. This does not necessarily imply that the one which changed most recently needs to change back. So much focus has been applied to the "offending" portion of the new XFree license; perhaps we should lend the same critical eye to our beloved GPL. One possible analogy for the situation is that the XFree license demonstrated a bug in the GPL. Of course, attribution is not always practical. Imagine documentation for the kernel with complete attribution. While it would have shortened this whole SCO business, an exhaustive list of contributors might now be larger that the actual sources. Mandatory attribution requirements in the GPL would be a Bad Thing(tm). Attribution is a fairly reasonable request for Open Source / Free Software licensing. The authors just want a little recognition for their efforts. Prohibited attribution requirements is also a Bad Thing(tm). One solution to the issue would be inclusion in the GPL of one or more optional clauses. Much in the same way that "front cover" and "back cover" texts may be included in a GPLed package, one could use a "GPL+attribution" license. Such a license would be compatible with the new XFree license. -- Batou: Hey, Major... You ever hear of "human rights"? Kusanagi: I understand the concept, but I've never seen it in action. --Ghost in the Shell