Re: Answer Re: Does the "GPL version choice" impact GPL-compatibility?

[Glenn Maynard <glenn@zewt.org>]

On Fri, Aug 27, 2004 at 11:17:57PM -0400, Nathanael Nerode wrote:
> Glenn Maynard asked:
> >Is it valid to combine GPL work placed under "GPL version 2" with one
> >under "GPL version 2 or any later version"?  That is, do versioning
> >choices impact compatibility (when the versions overlap)?  Are all future
> >modifications bound to give the same permission to upgrade the GPL?
> 
> Yes, it's valid to combine them.  The combined work, however, is effectively 
> GPL-version-2-only.  No, future modifications do not have to give upgrade 
> permission.  Ever -- you can take a "version 2 or later" program and put your 
> modifications under "version 2 only".  (In fact, you can take a "version 1 or 
> later" program and put your modifications under "version 2 only", or under 
> "version 1 only".)
> 
> This is pretty straightforward; the "version 2 or later" is a form of 
> dual-licensing (dual-licensed under version 2, version 3, etc.).
> You pick which license you want to use.  If you combine a work dual-licensed 
> under version 2 and version 3 with a work licensed only under version 2, you 
> have to use version 2.

I know all this; the question was debated for a while here, I asked
the question in summary form to the FSF on behalf of the list, and it
was answered.  The answer is exactly as I'd expected (except for in a
few brief moments of embarrassing confusion during the thread).  You're
replying to my forwarding of the official answer, repeating the answer
as if it wasn't there.  I can't imagine why, though I'm a little wary
at the moment for a Nerode-flood of thirty such useless replies at once ...

-- 
Glenn Maynard