[Opensim-dev] Violating the GPL by looking

[Stefan Andersson]

Yes,

the problem isn't using OpenSim and GPL:ed code together, the problem is introducing GPL:ed code in a BSD project; we do have the module system, which would let anyone, tainted or not, write GPL:ed code that would play very well with the core.

We would just not place that code and its dependencies in our BSD svn - you'd have to make it available say, on your own web site.

Also, as an alternative, we have been discussing setting up another repo (actually, another site completely) that holds non-core modules and extensions. That repo can very well be under mixed licenses.

/Stefan

> Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:09:19 -0700
> From: aerowolf at gmail.com
> To: opensim-dev at lists.berlios.de
> Subject: Re: [Opensim-dev] Violating the GPL by looking
> 
> On Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 11:10 AM, Michael Wright
> <michaelwri22 at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> > Well, we couldn't accept any GPL code, as that isn't generally compatible
> > with BSD, in the sense that BSD code can't use GPL code (unless the gpl code
> > has a FLOSS exception). And also we have third party libraries that just
> > aren't GPL compatible, like physx.
> 
> Ummm... I should point out that which everyone forgets.  If the main
> code will run without the presence of the GPL'ed code, but the main
> code can detect the GPLed code and use it if it's available (you know,
> kinda like the module system that opensim currently has, that dotnet
> has integrated and well-documented support for -- probably
> specifically to bypass this issue in its entirety), then there is no
> taint.  There's also no requirement in that case for the GPL code to
> have an FLOSS exception.
> 
> A friend of mine is using this to make use of the lzo.net library
> without tainting his entire project, which he's keeping closed-source.
> 
> (Also, there are two BSD licenses.  The first one, with the "obnoxious
> BSD advertising clause", is not GPL-compatible and thus requires the
> FLOSS exemption in GPLed code.  The second, without that advertising
> clause, does not require the exemption.)
> 
> > There has been talk about having code (say modules ) under say the LGPL, but
> > it was decided that its easier to just have all the code in opensim svn
> > under BSD. That doesn't stop people creating modules that are under a LGPL
> > license, just that at this time we aren't including such code in our svn.
> 
> So create a second svn that's specifically marked GPL, and do a weird
> voodoo svn extern rite to make it so people can deal with it without
> issue.
> 
> Meh.
> 
> -Kyle H
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