Peter Samuelson wrote: > I know at least one developer on a prominent open source project who > believes otherwise, and claims to be prepared to revoke their license > to her code, if they do certain things to piss her off. Presumably > this is grounded on the basis of her having received no consideration, > since it's a bit harder to revoke someone's right to use something they > bought and paid for. It is also possible that she's a looney. > That is completely not possible. Once you offer (and someone accepts) code under the terms of the GPL, they are for evermore entitled to use *that* code under the GPL. About the only thing that can be done is to quite releasing new versions of the software or release newer versions under a more restrictive license. That, or hope everyone who receives the code violates the GPL (since that is about the only you lose your rights under it after the fact). > Yes, I'm aware that if it's possible to revoke the GPL, it fails the > Tentacles of Evil test, and GPL software would be completely unsuitable > for any serious deployment. Note, however, that "but it *can't* be > that way because if it is, we're all in trouble" is not a very strong > argument. But it can't be done, period. Reference: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html "In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the software has the power to revoke the license, without your doing anything to give cause, the software is not free." -Roberto -- Roberto C. Sanchez http://familiasanchez.net/~sanchezr
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