Re: [Sheflug] how to release something under the GPL

[Matthew Collins <matthew [at] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, Nov 29, 2002 at 10:32:09PM +0000, Neil R Porter wrote:
> 
> OK, so as I see it, I cannot revoke the license on previous releases
> (seems sensible, and the opposite seems untenable), but surely I would
> be breaking that very license on those previous releases if I
> subsequently bring out closed source code on the back of previously open
> source code?  Am I missing something here?  Perhaps I can do this if I

No, It's your code, you can do what you like with it. Just because
you've released it under the GPL, you still own the copyright on it, so
you can also release it under any other licence you wish.

> am the only one who has the copyright on it?  I'd have to get
> permissions from the others if not?

Ah, if other people release modifications to it, and you incorporate
them back into your tree, it becomes a bit hairy. It all depends on how
substantial their modifications are, if they can be called new code, or
a simple modification of your code.
Just because they send you patches, dosn't meen you have to accept them.
The code you wrote is still your code, you can do what you like with it.

> 
> Again, I'd like to point out that I don't intend to do this, but I just
> want to know where I stand.  Especially since I know I'm going to get
> questioned about this from potential users of the code.

Right, where you stand. It's your code, you wrote it. To release it
under the GPL, put the Copyright notice at the top of every file,
include the file COPYING and stick it on a web server somewhere. Good on
ya!
It's still your code. If you want to make some changes and sell it as a
closed source app, you can.
You can't revoke rights to the existing distribution though.

Hope that's a bit clearer.

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