Re: DRAFT: debian-legal summary of the QPL
On Sun, Jul 11, 2004 at 11:38:07PM -0400, Nathanael Nerode wrote:
> > (I personally consider the patch element of DFSG#4 bogus. Patch clauses
> > prevent forking and code reuse almost entirely, both of which are
> > critical,
> > fundamental elements of Free Software.
>
> Patch clauses, just as a note, must *only* apply to *distribution*; one
> which applied to non-distributed copies would be entirely unacceptable.
> As such, they are essentially a silly and stupid hoop on distribution.
>
> It's plausible, even, to construct an 'auto-patchifier' for a revision
> control system which allows all the code reuse and forking to be done
> normally, and whenever it's distributed, converts it to the stupid 'patch'
> form automatically, and converts it back at the recipient's end.
I considered this--that's why I inserted "almost". It's a massive,
unreasonable hoop (perhaps "narrow hoop" is more appropriate) to jump
through, of course.
--
Glenn Maynard
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