From: Peter Å. <as...@ce...> - 2009-06-12 14:14:11
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The rdesktop source code is currently licensed as GPLv2+. We at Cendio believes that GPLv3 is preferred, and since the source is v2+, we have the option to switch. GPLv2 is old, from the Windows 3.0 era. We believe that this updated license is improved in many ways, and better protects the users' and developers' freedoms. Examples are explicit prohibitions of patent deals like the Novell-Microsoft one. The added protection against tivoization is also an important addition. There is also a bunch of minor things, like how you are given a grace period to remedy any breaches. For more information about Tivoization, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tivoization. We are aware of that some manufacturers of thin client terminals ships rdesktop but prevents installation of modified versions. We believe that this denies users some of the freedom that the GPL was designed to protect. An upgrade to v3 would solve this problem. If we proceed with the migration, the source code and license document would simply be updated from 2+ to 3+. New code and modifications would be 3+. Future releases would be marked as GPLv3. Note that it is already ok to distribute rdesktop under the v3 terms. The "migration" would in essence remove the possibility of distribute rdesktop as GPLv2. I/Cendio volunteer to do the practical work. Rgds, --- Peter Åstrand ThinLinc Chief Developer Cendio AB http://www.cendio.com Wallenbergs gata 4 583 30 Linköping Phone: +46-13-21 46 00 |
From: Gaël D. <gd...@ul...> - 2009-06-12 14:42:16
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Hi Peter! I'm curious about the process: why not just having the rdesktop authors contacted and agree for the GPLv2->GPLv3 license upgrade? I think it'd be enough to do that change, but I may be wrong, and that's why I'm asking. Regards, Gaël -- < Founder Ulteo - http://www.ulteo.com > < Founder Mandrake Linux - (Now "Mandriva") > < Blog: http://www.indidea.org/gael/blog/ > < Sign and encrypt emails with GPG! My key id: 0x8B0301E2 > |
From: Peter Å. <as...@ce...> - 2009-06-12 15:04:27
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> I'm curious about the process: why not just having the rdesktop authors > contacted and agree for the GPLv2->GPLv3 license upgrade? I think it'd > be enough to do that change, but I may be wrong, and that's why I'm asking. It is actually not necessary to contact (every) author. Since all authors have agreed to v2+, they have already accepted v3. The change to v3 can be done just like any other code change, but since the license is fairly fundamental, at least the project administrators should agree. Being a community project, I also think it's important that all developers, both those with Subversion write access as well as others, have a chance to comment. Rgds, --- Peter Åstrand ThinLinc Chief Developer Cendio AB http://www.cendio.com Wallenbergs gata 4 583 30 Linköping Phone: +46-13-21 46 00 |
From: Gaël D. <gd...@ul...> - 2009-06-12 15:09:04
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Peter Åstrand a écrit : > >> I'm curious about the process: why not just having the rdesktop authors >> contacted and agree for the GPLv2->GPLv3 license upgrade? I think it'd >> be enough to do that change, but I may be wrong, and that's why I'm >> asking. > > It is actually not necessary to contact (every) author. Since all > authors have agreed to v2+, they have already accepted v3. Didn't know about that. > The change to v3 can be done just like any other code change, but since > the license is fairly fundamental, at least the project administrators > should agree. Being a community project, I also think it's important > that all developers, both those with Subversion write access as well as > others, have a chance to comment. Information is important, agreed. Thx, G. -- < Founder Ulteo - http://www.ulteo.com > < Founder Mandrake Linux - (Now "Mandriva") > < Blog: http://www.indidea.org/gael/blog/ > < Sign and encrypt emails with GPG! My key id: 0x8B0301E2 > |