Re: RPSL and DFSG-compliance
On Tue, Jul 27, 2004 at 11:41:19AM -0700, Rob Lanphier wrote:
> > > On Tue, 2004-07-27 at 10:48, Matthew Garrett wrote:
> > >> Think about the reverse situation, where a free software developer
> > >> using software under the RPSL discovers that it breaches a patent he
> > >> holds. Why should his legitimate case result in the removal of his
> > >> rights to do anything with the code?
Personally, I don't really find the "prevents legitimate offensive patent use"
argument too convincing. In practice, software patents are so broken that
I don't really care if a license prevents "legitimate defending of a patent",
at least on the offensive side.
I do tend to sympathize with defensive patents, if only because it's the only
defense most companies have against offensive patents. So, I feel there may
be something wrong with a license that says "if we sue you, and you sue us
back, you lose your license to this software".
> GPL includes all sorts of IP reciprocity clauses. I understand the
> tactical differences between RPSL and GPL, but why is this morally any
> different?
I don't typically lose my license under the GPL due to actions taken that
have nothing at all to do with the work.
--
Glenn Maynard
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