Re: Nmap Public Source License Version 0.94 - Is it DFSG-compliant?
* Sam Hartman:
>>>>>> "Francesco" == Francesco Poli <invernomuto@paranoici.org> writes:
> Francesco> I am under the impression that a more correct way to
> Francesco> achieve the same results (free or non-free) would be to
> Francesco> create a different license, possibly reusing some parts
> Francesco> of the GNU GPL v2, but without referring to the GNU GPL
> Francesco> v2 (except for the acknowledgment that the new license
> Francesco> includes some modified pieces taken from the GNU GPL v2).
> Francesco> In other words, following the [FAQ].
>
> That's certainly what the FSF would prefer you do, yes.
> However, there are a few things to consider:
>
> 1) It's not clear that the FSF's copyright on the GPL allows you to
> borrow text from it for your license. I believe it does not.
The FSF actually does on their web site:
| Can I modify the GPL and make a modified license?
|
| You can use the GPL terms (possibly modified) in another license
| provided that you call your license by another name and do not
| include the GPL preamble, and provided you modify the
| instructions-for-use at the end enough to make it clearly different
| in wording and not mention GNU (though the actual procedure you
| describe may be similar).
|
| If you want to use our preamble in a modified license, please write
| to <licensing@gnu.org> for permission. For this purpose we would
| want to check the actual license requirements to see if we approve
| of them.
|
| Although we will not raise legal objections to your making a
| modified license in this way, we hope you will think twice and not
| do it. Such a modified license is almost certainly incompatible with
| the GNU GPL, and that incompatibility blocks useful combinations of
| modules. The mere proliferation of different free software licenses
| is a burden in and of itself.
<https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0-faq.en.html#ModifyGPL>
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