[pLog-svn] [gnu.org #343991] Re: templates/plugins have to be GPL without an "exemption"? (fwd)

[Oscar Renalias]

Thanks Jon, great work.

Do you think that we need to get some legal advice from the Software
Freedom Law Center or does our attempt at providing this exemption
clause sound good enough?

"We don't consider plugins or templates (e.g. that code that lives in
the plugins or templates directory of a LifeType installation) that is
created by a 3rd party to be a derivative work of the LifeType
software. We highly encourage you to release your plugins and
templates under the GPL, but you are free to use other licenses as
well"

The only thing I would change is that I'd use the passive voice to
remove all those "we" and replace them with "plugins and templates are
not considered", "developers are encouraged", and so on. What do the
native English speakers think? :)

On 9/25/07, Jon Daley <plogworld at jon.limedaley.com> wrote:
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 11:25:51 -0400
> From: Brett Smith via RT <licensing at fsf.org>
> Subject: Re: [gnu.org #343991] Re: [pLog-svn] templates/plugins have to be GPL
>      without an "exemption"? (fwd)
>
> On Tue, Sep 25, 2007 at 08:32:33AM -0400, Jon Daley via RT wrote:
> >       So, the question is, can we use GPL2, but include a clause like
> > the one quoted below, or do we need a different license altogether to
> > allow people to write plugins and templates that are not GPLed?
> >
> >       If we can use a clause (we would prefer to stay GPLed), do you
> > know of a clause that is already written, rather than trying to write our
> > own, and likely missing something?
>
> Jon,
>
> You're free to grant exceptions to the GPL to allow combinations with
> proprietary software, yes.  Unfortunately, I'm afraid we don't have any
> text that's readily suitable for your situation.  The Software Freedom Law
> Center sometimes provides help in cases like this; you can learn more about
> them at <http://www.softwarefreedom.org/>.
>
> Best regards,
>
> --
> Brett Smith
> Licensing Compliance Engineer, Free Software Foundation
>
> Please note that I am not an attorney.  This is not legal advice.
>
>
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