Re: [HACKERS] PostgreSQL Licence: GNU/GPL

Brent Verner <brent@rcfile.org>

From: Brent Verner <brent@rcfile.org>
To: Bruce Momjian <pgman@candle.pha.pa.us>
Cc: mlw <markw@mohawksoft.com>, alavoor <alavoor@yahoo.com>, pgsql-hackers@postgresql.org, pgsql-general@postgresql.org
Date: 2002-01-21T06:01:03Z
Lists: pgsql-hackers
[2002-01-20 23:43] Bruce Momjian said:
 
| At the great risk of causing chaos, let me chime in on this.  First, in
 
| However, we clearly don't have unanimous agreement on using GPL so I
| would like to address this in an FAQ item to get it more concrete.  What
| do people think of this summary:

| The GPL is similar to BSD, except that it has certain anti-closed source
| (proprietary) restrictions.  

Calling the two licenses "similar" is only an invitation to engage 
in license war.  I'd suggest something like the following (as long 
as it doesn't contain any factual errors).

   The PostgreSQL project has released its code under the BSD
   license since its inception.  Occasionally, users request that 
   the project be relicensed under the GPL.  Many PostgreSQL 
   developers feel the GPL contains certain restrictions that 
   might limit the ability of commercial entities to contribute 
   or continue contributing to the codebase, and question the 
   need for such restrictions.  In light of these concerns, we 
   will continue with the BSD license for the foreseeable future.

cheers.
  brent

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