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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Ok, this is a slightly different position than I've heard
before...<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>The issue of simple code inclusion is well defined IMO, OpenSIM
core can't include GPL'd code into the BSD licensed core without running afoul
of the GPL. That's a simple license compatibility issue. But in the
past what I've heard is that you don't want contributions from people who have
read or worked on viewer code because of concerns of copying IP (that is...
knowing something about the client implementation might taint the server code
because I'd use that info when implementing a server change).
Is that not the case? Diva, your message as worded sounds to me like you
would accept contributions so long as there were no GPL licensed code in the
submission. I.E. Your issue is no direct code copying, not intellectual
property related.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Modules external to core of course don't carry any
prohibition. In doing that I'm simply using API's the project has
provided and how I conform to licenses involved is my business.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Mike<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><a name="_MailEndCompose"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></a></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>
opensim-dev-bounces@lists.berlios.de
[mailto:opensim-dev-bounces@lists.berlios.de] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Diva Canto<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, June 30, 2010 8:03 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> opensim-dev@lists.berlios.de<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Opensim-dev] GPL / BSD licensing dangers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>The issue here is not BSD+GPL
licenses in general, although that's also an issue to worry about; the issue we
most vocally warn people about is very specific to OpenSim and Second Life.
OpenSim has been made legally possible due to the generosity of Linden Lab's
publishing their protocols by means of some public documentation and, yes, open
sourcing the client [under GPL]. So far, we have had the passive and, at
points, active support of Linden Lab in developing OpenSim. But, as we all
know, Linden Lab is a relatively unpredictable company; at any point, it could
be acquired by another company who is less enthusiastic about a free BSD open
source server side to their client. In the absolute worst case scenario, that
other company could cause us a lot of grief if OpenSim includes code directly
derived from GPL'ed viewer code. (I don't want to start a rhetorical discussion
about this; that's just the worst case scenario, period.)<br>
<br>
Hence, the "no risks" rule. We do not take patches from anyone who is
actively involved in the development of viewers from the LL viewer family.<br>
<br>
If, however, you are talking about your own modules that aren't part of the
official OpenSim distribution, then OpenSim has no say about it -- do whatever
you want. No one here is in a position to give legal advice.<br>
<br>
On 6/30/2010 4:18 AM, Neil Canham wrote: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Would anyone be able to tell me
about the warning for any one person not to work on both the OpenSim source and
a viewer such as Hippo? I understand that there are licensing differences
(BSD vs GPL respectively) and that direct inclusion of GPL code in a BSD
project breaks the GPL license. Surely you could guard against such
direct inclusion? Does this extend to region modules and mini-region
modules? I'm in the position of wanting to make changes to the viewer and
also to write MRMs or other modules.<br clear=all>
<br>
-- <br>
Neil Canham<br>
-- <br>
<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<pre style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre style='margin-left:
.5in'><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre style='margin-left:.5in'>_______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></pre><pre
style='margin-left:.5in'>Opensim-dev mailing list<o:p></o:p></pre><pre
style='margin-left:.5in'><a href="mailto:Opensim-dev@lists.berlios.de">Opensim-dev@lists.berlios.de</a><o:p></o:p></pre><pre
style='margin-left:.5in'><a
href="https://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/opensim-dev">https://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/opensim-dev</a><o:p></o:p></pre><pre
style='margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></pre>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
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