[consulting] GPL v3, contributions and effect on community

[Dan Robinson]

> But really no one can grab your GPL v3 code and place it behind a
> firewall as you say (not legally). The component of the GPL that covers
> such an exmaple is the 'all derivatives of this work must be distributed
> according to GPL v3...' (I don't have the text exactly in front of me
> right now) prevents them for rebranding/distributing for profit your
> work as proprietary.
>   
err....  not sure we're talking about the same thing.  The GPL v3 allows
for the "additional requirements" that would close the "web services
loophole" - if you use GPL code on a network you must make the source
available under the gpl.
> But if I labor in a closet making a new functionality for Drupal and I
> incorporate it into an innovative website (or even partner with others)
> that makes lots of money, I should not be required to reveal my code
> solely because Drupal is open source, GPL. As long as I don't distribute
> the code/nor try to sell my 'custom' Drupal creation (though I could see
> the entire site) I am not affected by GPL.
>   
you may be under GPL v3.
> Really, the time that you make is difficult or impossible for
> creative/entrepreneurial folks to profit from their creative ideas, they
> will move to an arena where they can.
>   
actually that's the argument I've acknowledged, and pointed out that
people would argue that under the current GPL it is already "impossible
... to profit from their creative ideas..." In other words why does this
logic magically stop at the dividing line between "distribute" or not? 
Why isn't using the code on a website not "distribution". 

I wonder how many professional people using Drupal are dependent on
keeping source closed for their business success.
> -G
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: consulting-bounces at drupal.org
> [mailto:consulting-bounces at drupal.org] On Behalf Of Dan Robinson
> Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 2:29 PM
> To: A list for Drupal consultants and Drupal service/hosting providers
> Subject: [consulting] GPL v3, contributions and effect on community
>
> Hi Folks,
>
> I wanted to riff off a subtopic that came up in the "Is this list Dead"
> thread.  The GPL 3 provisions to close the "web services loophole" can
> be seen in two ways.  One way is from the perspective that allows people
> to use the code as they will and to make $ and not have to give back as
> long as they don't distribute the code.  This makes some sense to folks
> because it allows one to create scarcity to create profit.  The argument
> is that it is better for the Free software movement because it
> encourages participation.  There is another important way to look at
> this however.  If I contribute code to a project, and someone takes that
> code and puts it behind a firewall and makes $ from it then I feel like
> they are using my work to line their pockets without contributing back. 
>
> So if you can make the argument that "we need to allow for this loophole
> so that people will have a business incentive to work with the code" it
> seems logical that you can make the opposite argument.  "No one will
> want to contribute to the project because they can't protect against
> people who would unfairly profit from their work".  I have another
> problem with the "leave the loophole" argument - which is that why do we
> need to create a way for people to make $ in this way?  We prohibit them
> from doing it via license fees?  The line got drawn where it is because
> it is a "loophole".
>
> So to summarize.  I am not against people making money (in any way that
> is legal), I'm just against people using my work to make money for
> themselves - *and then not sharing their work back*.
>
> Dan
>
> - yup - this list is not dead yet :)
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