Re: GNAT GPL Edition Maintenance and Upgrades

[Samuel Tardieu <sam@rfc1149.net>]

>>>>> "Georg" == Georg Bauhaus <bauhaus@futureapps.de> writes:

Georg> Do you have any indication that AdaCore offers software under
Georg> anything but GPL or GMGPL? I don't, and I don't think you
Georg> have. I think there isn't any.

I don't think either, but this is not the point at all.

Georg> They use "the modified GPL for runtime stuff", see FSF
Georg> GNAT. They have made a new, *additional* offering by packaging
Georg> tons of software for "writing free software". They are even
Georg> considering whether they can offer terms and conditions for
Georg> combining software that uses different open source
Georg> licenses. (According to the libre web site.)

Exactly, they have made an additional offering, under a different
license, leading to the first dual license for GNAT (GPL and GMGPL)
that I know of. This is their right, but they said they chose not to
do it in the past, see below.

Georg> What makes you think that "AdaCore changed their mind and
Georg> strategy completely?"

Have you read the part I quoted? Here is a more reduced excerpt from
Robert's post: (without changing the meaning of what he said, check
the archives on Google Groups for example for the whole post)

 "it is quite fine legally for someone to distribute GPL'ed software
  for price $x, possibly $0, and charge you a bundle for a separate
  license that allows you to use the same software in a proprietary
  context [...] at ACT we prefer a completely clean situation with no
  such dual licensing, which is why we use the modified GPL for
  runtime stuff".

AdaCore is now doing exactly what Robert said they chose not to:
distribute GPL'ed software for price $0 [GNAT GPL] and charge people a
bundle for a separate license that allows them to use the same
software in a proprietary context [GNAT Pro] (I am paraphrasing him
here as you can easily see).

Looks like a huge change in mind and strategy to me compared to what
was said and written before.

You may think that this change is for good. But you cannot deny that
this goes against the strategy that had been developed up to GNAT 3.15p.

  Sam
-- 
Samuel Tardieu -- sam@rfc1149.net -- http://www.rfc1149.net/sam