Re: GPLv3 Position Statement

Linus Torvalds
2006-09-28T15:04:40Z

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On Thu, 28 Sep 2006, Jörn Engel wrote:
>
> And I assume (careful, I'm _really_ uninformed here) the FSF is well
> aware of that and wants a one-way compatibility between v2 and v3.
> Any v2 code can be picked up by a v3 project, but not the other way
> around. v3 projects have a clear evolutionary advantage over v2.

A _real_ v2 project doesn't have that problem. In fact, I'm a huge
believer in evolution (not in the sense that "it happened" - anybody who
doesn't believe that is either uninformed or crazy, but in the sense "the
processes of evolution are really fundamental, and should probably be at
least _thought_ about in pretty much any context").

And I think the v2 is actually _more_ stable in an evolutionary sense
(look up Maynard Smith and "ESS" - "Evolutionarily Stable Strategy" - for
more ideas about the biological evolution case) exactly because it's more
inclusive - it handles more cases.

The GPLv3 is a dead end in some areas, exactly because it limits how the
project can be used, and as such will automatically limit itself away from
some niches. Also, because I believe that it's less "universally
acceptable", it has a harder time competing anyway.

And the GPLv2 and GPLv3 really _are_ mutually incompatible. There is
absolutely nothing in the GPLv2 that is inherently compatible with the
GPLv3, and the _only_ way you can mix code is if you explicitly
dual-license it.

Ie, GPLv2 and GPLv3 are compatible only the same way GPLv2 is compatible
with a commercial proprietary license: they are compatible only if you
release the code under a dual license.

The whole "or later" phrase is legally _no_ different at all from a dual
licensing (it's just more open-ended, and you don't know what the "or
later" will be, so you're basically saying that you trust the FSF
implicitly).

> And here the kernel wording with "v2 only" in the kernel is
> interesting.

No. I _really_ want to clarify this, because so many people get it wrong.
Really.

The "GPLv2 only" wording is really just a clarification. You don't need it
for the project to be "GPLv2 only".

If a project says: "This code is licensed under this copyright license"
and then goes on to quote the GPLv2, then IT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE
GPLv3!

Or if you just say "I license my code under the GPLv2", IT IS NOT
COMPATIBLE WITH THE GPLv3.

Really. There is zero inherent compatibility. The GPLv2 is written (on
purpose) to not be compatible with _anything_ but itself. If you want your
code to be compatible with anything else, you have to explicitly say so.
In other words, you have to dual-license it, and _keep_ it dual-licensed.

> So the evolutionary advantage is lost, as it only exists through the "v2
> or later" term.

Exactly. The GPLv3 can _only_ take over a GPLv2 project if the "or later"
exists.

It should also be pointed out that even a "GPLv2 or later" project can be
forked two different ways: you can turn it into a "GPLv3" (with perhaps a
"or later" added too) project, but you can _equally_ turn it into a "GPLv2
only" project.

In other words, even if the license says "GPLv2 or later", the GPLv3 isn't
actually "stronger". The original author dual-licensed it, and expressly
told you that he's ok with any GPL version greater than or equal to 2.

Linus