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Re:French Court Issues Damages Award for Violation of GPL by growse on Monday March 04, 2024 @03:46AM (#39588313)
I think I'm with you on this in general

> 1. If you’re not touching the core code, it’s not under the GPL. I try and get them to LGPL license the extension points but they don’t see the benefit in trying to relicense it with all their contributors.

I sense this comes down to a really poor definition of "linking" (is that the word in the text? Can't remember and don't have it to hand).

It's not at all obvious for each software/language ecosystem which specific act constitutes "linking".

> 2. For your second point, the issue is that the GPL is intentionally vague as a deterrent for corporate abuse. The issue becomes that, as a corporate user: I have to take the most pessimistic view to protect myself. If I switch my hat to someone non corporate, then I take the most optimistic view. In those cases, they often say to not take the pessimistic view because that’s not the spirit as they understand it.

100%, and this is my gripe against things like the BSL too. It's disingenuous because the aim of the license is to create risk and uncertainty through poor definitions and vagueness.

Re:French Court Issues Damages Award for Violation of GPL by Nursie on Monday March 04, 2024 @05:26AM (#39588853)
> It's disingenuous because the aim of the license is to create risk

It’s really not, the aim of the GPL is to preserve freedom to tinker and reuse for all users.

If that’s not something you’re wanting to do, then it’s best not to use GPL components.

Re:French Court Issues Damages Award for Violation of GPL by hnfong on Monday March 04, 2024 @08:35AM (#39590280)
Yep, that's what the GP said.
Re:French Court Issues Damages Award for Violation of GPL by growse on Monday March 04, 2024 @08:44AM (#39590370)
Both things can be true. The wealth of comments in this very discussion from people who aren't sure what exactly is and isn't permitted under the GPL shows that it is vague.

I'm just not convinced that the lack of clarity which tends to steer large companies away from such software is just a bug, not a feature.

Re:French Court Issues Damages Award for Violation of GPL by Nursie on Monday March 04, 2024 @11:21AM (#39592157)
Whether it is vague, and whether it is purposely vague as a mechanism to achieve its aims, are different phenomena to the aim of the license. IMHO.
Re:French Court Issues Damages Award for Violation of GPL by mistrial9 on Monday March 04, 2024 @10:06AM (#39591342)
> people who aren't sure what exactly is and isn't permitted under the GPL shows that it is vague

this is literally FALSE