Re: GPL preamble removal
On Mon, Sep 01, 2003 at 08:35:24PM +0200, Mika Fischer wrote:
> > CC RMS: could this please be clarified? It's causing repeat
> > confusion, and nobody knows if we're really allowed to remove the
> > preamble and/or create derivative licenses of the GPL.
>
> I think the following is quite clear:
> http://www.fsf.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLOmitPreamble
> ---snip---
> The preamble and instructions are integral parts of the GNU GPL and may
> not be omitted. In fact, the GPL is copyrighted, and its license permits
> only verbatim copying of the entire GPL. (You can use the legal terms to
> make another license but it won't be the GNU GPL.)
> ---snip---
> which links to:
> http://www.fsf.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#ModifyGPL
This is not clear at all. The preamble is integral and may not be removed,
and the license permits only verbetim copying, but you can make changes as
long as you remove the preamble, even though it just said you can do
neither. What?
Is it trying to say that you can remove the preamble as long as you also
make some kind of modification to the license text? That would be
strange (and pointless, I think; change some whitespace.)
--
Glenn Maynard
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