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Posted to dev@httpd.apache.org by Marc Slemko <ma...@worldgate.com> on 1998/01/23 20:28:41 UTC
Communicator under GPL-like licence, other details (fwd)
FYI.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 12:25:08 -0700
From: Kevin Fluet <ke...@worldgate.com>
To: marcs@worldgate.com, skafte@worldgate.com
Cc: cwagner@nettime.com
Subject: Communicator under GPL-like licence, other details
Just got off the reseller conference call regarding Communicator being
free and the release of Communicator 5 source code.
The Communicator 5.0 source code will be the c/c++ version, not the Java
version. The Java version (currently code-named "Javigator") will be
released as a separate, parrallel product when it is ready.
Communicator 5.0 source code will be distributed under a very GPL-like
licence. Netscape will allow any developer to make changes to the code,
but all changes that a developer wants to distribute will have to be
released to the world for use by other developers.
If a developer does not want to release source changes that they have
made to Communicator, the developer may produce modules/libraries that
are called by Communicator. This way, only the API source code will
have to be released, not the source for the modules/libraries.
Netscape will maintain the Communicator "reference" code release, which
will incorporate approved changes. Netscape will continue development
of Communicator. Part of the reason they are releasing source code is
so that they can have "some of the very bright programmers out on the
net, like those who develop the Apache web server" work on the code.
Yes, they obviously have a lot of respect for the Apache guys. Apache
was the only group they mentioned.
Netscape will not be releasing ALL of the source code included in
Communicator due to licencing restrictions. For example, they can not
and will not release code licenced from Sun or Silicon Graphics. Only
the Netscape-developed source code will be released. Presumeably, API's
and object files will be available where necessary.
You may discuss this information freely with anyone who asks. It isn't
confidential.
-- kevin
------------------------------------------------
Kevin Fluet General Manager, WorldGate Inc.
VOICE: (403)413-1910 kevin@worldgate.com
FAX: (403)421-4929 INFO: sales@worldgate.com
Re: Communicator under GPL-like licence, other details (fwd)
Posted by Brian Behlendorf <br...@organic.com>.
At 12:10 PM 1/23/98 -0800, Dean Gaudet wrote:
>
>
>On Fri, 23 Jan 1998, Marc Slemko wrote:
>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 12:25:08 -0700
>> From: Kevin Fluet <ke...@worldgate.com>
>>
>> Communicator 5.0 source code will be distributed under a very GPL-like
>> licence. Netscape will allow any developer to make changes to the code,
>> but all changes that a developer wants to distribute will have to be
>> released to the world for use by other developers.
>>
>> If a developer does not want to release source changes that they have
>> made to Communicator, the developer may produce modules/libraries that
>> are called by Communicator. This way, only the API source code will
>> have to be released, not the source for the modules/libraries.
>
>These two paragraphs seem to contradict each other.
Depends on your definition of "released to the world". Can I "release to
the world" but still charge for it? Put my own copyright and
redistribution terms on it?
Brian
--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--
specialization is for insects brian@organic.com
Re: Communicator under GPL-like licence, other details (fwd)
Posted by Marc Slemko <ma...@worldgate.com>.
On Fri, 23 Jan 1998, Dean Gaudet wrote:
>
>
> On Fri, 23 Jan 1998, Marc Slemko wrote:
>
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 12:25:08 -0700
> > From: Kevin Fluet <ke...@worldgate.com>
> >
> > Communicator 5.0 source code will be distributed under a very GPL-like
> > licence. Netscape will allow any developer to make changes to the code,
> > but all changes that a developer wants to distribute will have to be
> > released to the world for use by other developers.
> >
> > If a developer does not want to release source changes that they have
> > made to Communicator, the developer may produce modules/libraries that
> > are called by Communicator. This way, only the API source code will
> > have to be released, not the source for the modules/libraries.
>
> These two paragraphs seem to contradict each other.
All _changes_ have to be distributed.
However, if someone wants to write their own code if they can write an API
so that modules or libraries are just loaded by Communicator, then they
don't have to distribute the source for their modules or libraries, just
for the hooks to put them in.
This is similar to if Apache was GPLed but people could write non-GPLed
modules.
Re: Communicator under GPL-like licence, other details (fwd)
Posted by Dean Gaudet <dg...@arctic.org>.
On Fri, 23 Jan 1998, Marc Slemko wrote:
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 12:25:08 -0700
> From: Kevin Fluet <ke...@worldgate.com>
>
> Communicator 5.0 source code will be distributed under a very GPL-like
> licence. Netscape will allow any developer to make changes to the code,
> but all changes that a developer wants to distribute will have to be
> released to the world for use by other developers.
>
> If a developer does not want to release source changes that they have
> made to Communicator, the developer may produce modules/libraries that
> are called by Communicator. This way, only the API source code will
> have to be released, not the source for the modules/libraries.
These two paragraphs seem to contradict each other.
Dean