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

[Neil R Porter <n.r.porter [at] xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, 2002-11-29 at 22:50, Alex Hudson wrote:
> On Fri, 2002-11-29 at 22:32, 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? 
> 
> As the author, you're not bound by the licence in any effective manner.
> Think about it: you can only sue someone for licence infringement if you
> have been damaged (i.e., you're the copyright holder), any old Joe on
> the street cannot launch an action. Who could sue you for breaking the
> GPL? No-one. This isn't a feature of the GPL, it's just copyright law.
> 
> >  Perhaps I can do this if I
> > am the only one who has the copyright on it?  I'd have to get
> > permissions from the others if not?
> 
> Yes, sorry if I didn't make that clear. You need to be sole copyright
> owner, or have copyright of all the code, or permission from the other
> copyright holders.
> 
> > 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.
> 
> There is a very good GPL FAQ on the GNU site:
> 	
> 	http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html

Yes, I've read through it once... perhaps I'll read it through a couple
more times :)

> The GPL is subtle in a number of ways people often don't understand.

I think I am finally beginning to appreciate this.

Thanks.

Righto, onwards and sideways

Neil

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