Re: [HACKERS] PostgreSQL Licence: GNU/GPL

On Mon, 21 Jan 2002, Bruce Momjian wrote:

> > This is really good as far as it goes.  I'd also like to see the
> > point made that we cannot simply relicense the code, even if we wished
> > to, because the current developers are not the sole authors/owners.
> > Perhaps something like this:
> >
> >    The PostgreSQL project has released its code under the BSD license
> >    since its inception; as did the Berkeley Postgres project before us.
> >    Occasionally, users suggest that the project be relicensed under the
> >    GPL.  This is not very practical because it would require the
> >    concurrence not only of the current developers, but many past
> >    contributors both at Berkeley and all over the net.  Furthermore,
> >    many PostgreSQL developers feel the GPL contains restrictions that
> >    would 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 issues, we will continue with the
> >    BSD license for the foreseeable future.
>
> Man, this text is getting longer.  :-(
>
> Anyway, let's look at it this way.  If we allow for proprietary versions
> of PostgreSQL, it is hard to imagine why we couldn't make a GPL version
> _without_ the agreement of past contributors.  We have to keep the BSD
> part about giving credit and no sueing, but we can clearly _add_ the GPL
> cruft if we wanted to and all current/future developers agree.  It is
> basically a GPL fork of PostgreSQL, rather than a proprietary fork.

If someone wanted to fork and call it a new name, ya, its doable ...