GPL2 vs. GPL3 issue in VDR plug-in packages
Hello!
We (The Debian VDR Packaging Team [1]) are currently discussing some
license issues with the VDR plug-in packages.
The Linux Video Disc Recorder (VDR) program itself is currently licensed
with "either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later
version". Most of the plug-ins for VDR refer in the README and the
headers of the sources to the COPYING file, which contains the full GPL2
license text.
Here comes the first question. If only the full GPL2 license text is
referenced, does this mean, that the plug-in is licensed "GPL2-only" or
"GPL2 or any later"?
Or does this allow any GPL license to be allowed as stated in paragraph
9 of the GPL2?
"If the Program does not specify a version number of this License, you
may choose any version ever published by the Free Software Foundation."
And what das "ever published" mean? Does this include GPL 3?
The program (plug-in) does not explicitly mention the GPL version. It
just says "See the file COPYING for the full license information". And
COPYING is just the GPL2 license text.
A different issue may come up in the future, when VDR will be licensed
under GPL3. What happens then to VDR plug-ins, that are still GPL2 or
GPL2 or any later? According to the FSF's GPL FAQ the plug-ins are then
licence incompatible.
And what about plug-ins that are GPL3 while VDR stays "GPL2 or any later"?
I hope, you can bring some light into this discussion.
Regards,
Tobias
[1]: http://alioth.debian.org/projects/pkg-vdr-dvb/
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