RE: [tlug] Vendor lock-in vs monopoly

[Curt Sampson <cjs@example.com>]

On Thu, 11 Oct 2007, burlingk@example.com wrote:

> The advertising clause isn't an issue any more.

This is absolutely incorrect. The advertising clause is still a big
issue for projects like NetBSD.

> It has been removed completely from the current version of the BSD
> License, as well as retroactively removing it from all of their own
> software that the license was used on.

For CSRG software, yes. What about the other seventy or ninety
contributors that used the same license? CSRG can change the license
for the code for which they hold the copyright; they cannot change the
license for code for which someone else holds the copyright.

> The program itself never need make a peep about who did what.

That was never a bit issue, anyway. The problem is when you advertise a
NetBSD CD. Underneath your "order here for a dollar" or whatever, you
need to acknowledge every contributor who put an advertising clause in
his license. (Yes, all eighty of them.)

cjs
--
Curt Sampson       <cjs@example.com>        +81 90 7737 2974
Mobile sites and software consulting: http://www.starling-software.com