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The author could release new versions with a more restrictive license.

by planede 3y ago

newaccount74 3y ago
The license is probably a reason for its popularity.
- planede 3y ago
  Possibly. Switching to GPL would probably mean that chromium can no longer use it (I think they use it currently, but I'm not 100% sure). Then they could switch to an other permissively licensed jpeg library that is maintained (is there any?), roll their own (probably forking an old version), or persuade the author to consider licensing new versions permissively (hopefully with some money).
  - Macha 3y ago
    There is of course the original libjpeg, which libjpeg-turbo forked from back in the 00s, which has had its latest release in 2022.
    - sangnoir 3y ago
      I wonder if author has paid a red cent to the maintainers of libjpeg
- pornel 3y ago
  Evidently you can't have both unrestricted free use, and capture all the value you've created.
mkl 3y ago
But the existing version under the permissive license already exists, and everyone can keep using it or even fork it. The only way a change to a more restrictive license could work is if there were really compelling features only available in that version.
- planede 3y ago
  Well, the author mostly complains about lack of funding for maintaining the library, making bug fixes and adding new features. So I think that's OK?
  - pierat 3y ago
    In the end, it's not the individuals who are greedy to the extreme. Instead, it's the companies that are pathologically greedy to the point of killing off what they need to survive. These companies could throw $10k or more at their FLOSS constituents to thank them. And more most of the companies we're talking here, is a rounding error of a rounding error. But, most don't cause there is no 'need' to. Why build a community when you can just use people up?
    - Dalewyn 3y ago
      An accountant once told me that you don't get paid unless you send out invoices. Businesses aren't going to pay unless they are mandated to, because why would they otherwise?
    - worrycue 3y ago
      Tragedy of the commons.
- newaccount74 3y ago
  Even that won't be guaranteed to work. Bash is forever stuck on an ancient version on macOS, because Apple doesn't want to touch GPLv3 code. At some point they switched to zsh for the default shell.
  - bombolo 3y ago
    That's entirely apple's fault.
  - planede 3y ago
    Works for whom? I don't think the authors of bash care.

The author could release new versions with a more restrictive license.

newaccount74 3y ago

The license is probably a reason for its popularity.

planede 3y ago
Possibly. Switching to GPL would probably mean that chromium can no longer use it (I think they use it currently, but I'm not 100% sure). Then they could switch to an other permissively licensed jpeg library that is maintained (is there any?), roll their own (probably forking an old version), or persuade the author to consider licensing new versions permissively (hopefully with some money).
- Macha 3y ago
  There is of course the original libjpeg, which libjpeg-turbo forked from back in the 00s, which has had its latest release in 2022.
  - sangnoir 3y ago
    I wonder if author has paid a red cent to the maintainers of libjpeg
pornel 3y ago
Evidently you can't have both unrestricted free use, and capture all the value you've created.

mkl 3y ago

But the existing version under the permissive license already exists, and everyone can keep using it or even fork it. The only way a change to a more restrictive license could work is if there were really compelling features only available in that version.

planede 3y ago
Well, the author mostly complains about lack of funding for maintaining the library, making bug fixes and adding new features. So I think that's OK?
- pierat 3y ago
  In the end, it's not the individuals who are greedy to the extreme. Instead, it's the companies that are pathologically greedy to the point of killing off what they need to survive. These companies could throw $10k or more at their FLOSS constituents to thank them. And more most of the companies we're talking here, is a rounding error of a rounding error. But, most don't cause there is no 'need' to. Why build a community when you can just use people up?
  - Dalewyn 3y ago
    An accountant once told me that you don't get paid unless you send out invoices. Businesses aren't going to pay unless they are mandated to, because why would they otherwise?
  - worrycue 3y ago
    Tragedy of the commons.
newaccount74 3y ago
Even that won't be guaranteed to work. Bash is forever stuck on an ancient version on macOS, because Apple doesn't want to touch GPLv3 code. At some point they switched to zsh for the default shell.
- bombolo 3y ago
  That's entirely apple's fault.
- planede 3y ago
  Works for whom? I don't think the authors of bash care.