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Every time a GPL related post comes up, it always reminds me of the sqlite project, and how the world could be simpler without those weird licenses. http://www

by chj 14y ago

Every time a GPL related post comes up, it always reminds me of the sqlite project, and how the world could be simpler without those weird licenses. http://www.sqlite.org/copyright.html http://www.sqlite.org/copyright.html

Nursie 14y ago
That's all well and good, but the GPL is set up to address problems that the authors saw, that public domain licensing does not - mainly that they thought users should have the right to obtain the source to the stuff running on their machines. Others like it because it's a way of saying 'you can use this stuff I've put a lot of effort into, but only if we get to see the enhancements you make'. I know that neither of these things is a priority for some developers, who prefer things to be used as widely as possible and as unrestricted as possible, but that's not for everyone.
bad_user 14y ago
In general you cannot place your work under public domain because in many countries (including in the U.S. with some exceptions) the work must enter the public domain by itself after the copyrights expired. The copyright term also differs of course from country to country. Even worse, there are jurisdictions in which the public domain is not recognized.
- koko775 14y ago
  Did you even read the link? > Even though SQLite is in the public domain and does not require a license, some users want to obtain a license anyway. Some reasons for obtaining a license include: > > * You are using SQLite in a jurisdiction that does not recognize the public domain. > * You are using SQLite in a jurisdiction that does not recognize the right of an author to dedicate their work to the public domain. > * You want to hold a tangible legal document as evidence that you have the legal right to use and distribute SQLite. > * Your legal department tells you that you have to purchase a license. > > If you feel like you really have to purchase a license for SQLite, Hwaci, the company that employs the architect and principal developers of SQLite, will sell you one.

by chj 14y ago

Nursie 14y ago

That's all well and good, but the GPL is set up to address problems that the authors saw, that public domain licensing does not - mainly that they thought users should have the right to obtain the source to the stuff running on their machines. Others like it because it's a way of saying 'you can use this stuff I've put a lot of effort into, but only if we get to see the enhancements you make'. I know that neither of these things is a priority for some developers, who prefer things to be used as widely as possible and as unrestricted as possible, but that's not for everyone.

bad_user 14y ago

In general you cannot place your work under public domain because in many countries (including in the U.S. with some exceptions) the work must enter the public domain by itself after the copyrights expired. The copyright term also differs of course from country to country. Even worse, there are jurisdictions in which the public domain is not recognized.

koko775 14y ago
Did you even read the link? > Even though SQLite is in the public domain and does not require a license, some users want to obtain a license anyway. Some reasons for obtaining a license include: > > * You are using SQLite in a jurisdiction that does not recognize the public domain. > * You are using SQLite in a jurisdiction that does not recognize the right of an author to dedicate their work to the public domain. > * You want to hold a tangible legal document as evidence that you have the legal right to use and distribute SQLite. > * Your legal department tells you that you have to purchase a license. > > If you feel like you really have to purchase a license for SQLite, Hwaci, the company that employs the architect and principal developers of SQLite, will sell you one.