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It's more accurate to say that Apple's rules are mutually incompatible with the GPL. Neither explicitly calls out the other. It just happens that it's impossi

by amalcon 15y ago

It's more accurate to say that Apple's rules are mutually incompatible with the GPL. Neither explicitly calls out the other. It just happens that it's impossible to follow both sets of rules simultaneously. If I cared to blame someone for this, it would be Apple, as the GPL predates the App Store. It really doesn't make sense to specifically blame anyone, though. You just have two sets of rules that are mutually incompatible. Just note the consequence and be done with it.

rbanffy 15y ago
Of course. Apple could have made the rules to accommodate GPL'ed apps, but they didn't. I am very curious as to what the exact terms will be in order to allow GPL'ed apps on the MS store.
- gillianseed 15y ago
  This has already been discussed at length, the reason Apple's Appstore terms is incompatible with GPL is because the 'App Store' restricts the number of copies you can make of the downloaded binary while GPL explicitly allows you to make as many copies as you want. Microsoft's store allows GPL software (and other open source) by simply saying that when it comes to open source software the oss licence will take precedence over Microsoft's own licence terms.
  - rbanffy 15y ago
    Good. That's a simple and elegant solution.
  - lambda 15y ago
    Right. The Android Market works the same way. The problem with Apple's App Store rules is that it's their way or the highway. There is no way to grant your users more freedom than the App Store does. This, coupled with the fact that you can't install apps other than from the App Store on an iPhone (without jailbreaking your phone or paying extra money to be a developer and building them yourself), is why I will never own an iPhone (at least until they fix those problems).
timwiseman 15y ago
Very well said an excellent explanation. Though it might also be pointed out that in addition to the GPL predating the App store, it would be reasonably simple for Apple to modify its policies to be compatible with the GPL, while it would take a fundamental change in what the GPL means for the GPL to work with the current App Store policies.

by amalcon 15y ago

rbanffy 15y ago

Of course. Apple could have made the rules to accommodate GPL'ed apps, but they didn't. I am very curious as to what the exact terms will be in order to allow GPL'ed apps on the MS store.

gillianseed 15y ago
This has already been discussed at length, the reason Apple's Appstore terms is incompatible with GPL is because the 'App Store' restricts the number of copies you can make of the downloaded binary while GPL explicitly allows you to make as many copies as you want. Microsoft's store allows GPL software (and other open source) by simply saying that when it comes to open source software the oss licence will take precedence over Microsoft's own licence terms.
- rbanffy 15y ago
  Good. That's a simple and elegant solution.
- lambda 15y ago
  Right. The Android Market works the same way. The problem with Apple's App Store rules is that it's their way or the highway. There is no way to grant your users more freedom than the App Store does. This, coupled with the fact that you can't install apps other than from the App Store on an iPhone (without jailbreaking your phone or paying extra money to be a developer and building them yourself), is why I will never own an iPhone (at least until they fix those problems).

timwiseman 15y ago

Very well said an excellent explanation. Though it might also be pointed out that in addition to the GPL predating the App store, it would be reasonably simple for Apple to modify its policies to be compatible with the GPL, while it would take a fundamental change in what the GPL means for the GPL to work with the current App Store policies.