[drupal-docs] Fw: [gnu.org #246765] Modified BSD modules with GPL program

[Jeremy Andrews]

Hello,

  I'd like to write up a summary of the following information to
include it on drupal.org.  Where should the information be placed
within the Drupal handbook?

Thanks,
 -Jeremy


Begin forwarded message:

Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 17:34:52 -0400
From: "Dave Turner via RT" <licensing at fsf.org>
To: jeremy at kerneltrap.org
Subject: [gnu.org #246765] Modified BSD modules with GPL program 


> [jeremy at kerneltrap.org - Sun Jul 10 20:15:32 2005]:
> 
> Hello,
> 
>   I'm writing for licensing clarification.  I'm using the GPL
> licensed CMS, Drupal [1].  It is a modular collection of PHP
> scripts, comprised of some include files and various "core
> modules".  To expand the functionality of the Drupal system, one
> can write additional "modules" that call various hooks within the
> GPL'd core system.
> 
>   I see on your Licensing page [2] that the "Modified BSD license"
> is compatible with the GPL license, however, I'm unclear on
> exactly what this means.  

A license p is compatible with a license q (or is q-compatible) if:
A work licensed under p can be distributed under the terms of q.

> Specifically:
>
>  - Is it legal for me to write a Drupal module and release it
> under the "Modified BSD license"?

Yes; the work as a whole (your module + Drupal) is GPL'd, but your
module has additional permissions.

>  - Is it legal for me to write a Drupal module and release it
> under a dual "Modified BSD/GPL" license?

Yes, that works too.  The effect is the same.

>   Additionally, is it okay for me to publish your answer on
> Drupal.org to clarify this question for all interested parties?

Yes, if you include the following:

I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice.  If you need legal
advice, talk to your lawyer.

-- 
-Dave "Novalis" Turner
GPL Compliance Engineer
Free Software Foundation