[ossig] [Fwd: [Info-gplv3] Third discussion draft of GPLv3 released]

Wed Mar 28 23:22:13 MYT 2007

-------- Forwarded Message --------
> From: GPLv3 Information <info-gplv3 at gplv3.fsf.org>
> Reply-To: webmaster at gplv3.fsf.org
> To: info-fsf at gnu.org, info-press at gnu.org, info-gplv3 at gplv3.fsf.org
> Subject: [Info-gplv3] Third discussion draft of GPLv3 released
> Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:14:50 -0400
> 
> BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA---Wednesday, March 28, 2007---The Free
> Software Foundation (FSF) today released the third discussion draft
> for version 3 of the most widely used free software license, the GNU
> General Public License (GNU GPL).  
> 
> Today's draft incorporates the feedback received from the general
> public, official discussion committees, and two international
> conferences held in India and Japan.  Many significant changes have been
> made since the previous draft, released in July 2006.  In recognition of
> this fact, the FSF now plans to publish one additional draft before the
> final text of GPL version 3.
> 
> Changes in this draft include:
> 
> * First-time violators can have their license automatically restored if
>   they remedy the problem within thirty days.
> 
> * License compatibility terms have been simplified, with the goal of
>   making them easier to understand and administer.
> 
> * Manufacturers who include the software in consumer products must also
>   provide installation information for the software along with the 
>   source. This change provides more narrow focus for requirements that 
>   were proposed in previous drafts.
> 
> * New patent requirements have been added to prevent distributors from
>   colluding with patent holders to provide discriminatory protection 
>   from patents.  
> 
> Richard Stallman, president of the FSF and principal author of the GNU
> GPL, said, "The GPL was designed to ensure that all users of a program
> receive the four essential freedoms which define free software. These
> freedoms allow you to run the program as you see fit, study and adapt it
> for your own purposes, redistribute copies to help your neighbor, and
> release your improvements to the public. The recent patent agreement
> between Microsoft and Novell aims to undermine these freedoms.  In this
> draft we have worked hard to prevent such deals from making a mockery of
> free software." 
> 
> Today's draft will be open for discussion for sixty days. The FSF will
> solicit input in a wide array of public venues and make changes as
> needed in response.  After this period, it will release a "last call"
> draft, followed by another thirty days for discussion before the FSF's
> board of directors approves the final text of GPL version 3.
> 
> More information about this draft is available at http://gplv3.fsf.org,
> including the full text, detailed explanations of the latest changes,
> and new plans for finalizing the license.  As with the previous drafts,
> the FSF encourages community members to provide feedback on the new
> draft at this site.
> 
> 
> 
> About the GNU General Public License (GNU GPL)
> 
> The GNU GPL is the most widely used free software license worldwide:
> almost three quarters of all free software packages are distributed
> under this license.  It is not, however, the only free software license.
> 
> Richard Stallman wrote the version 1 and 2 of the GNU GPL with legal
> advice from Perkins, Smith & Cohen.  Version 1 was released in 1989, and
> version 2 in 1991.  Since 1991, free software use has increased
> tremendously, and computing practices have changed, introducing new
> opportunities and new threats.  In 2005, Stallman began revising
> the GPL for version 3. In January 2006, the FSF began a systematic
> process of public review and feedback, with legal advice and
> organizational support from the Software Freedom Law Center.
> 
> 
> About the GNU Operating System and Linux
> 
> Richard Stallman announced in September 1983 the plan to develop a free
> software Unix-like operating system called GNU.  GNU is the only
> operating system developed specifically for the sake of users' freedom.
> See http://www.gnu.org/gnu/the-gnu-project.html.
> 
> In 1992, the essential components of GNU were complete, except for
> one, the kernel.  When in 1992 the kernel Linux was re-released under
> the GNU GPL, making it free software, the combination of GNU and Linux
> formed a complete free operating system, which made it possible for
> the first time to run a PC without non-free software.  This
> combination is the GNU/Linux system.  For more explanation, see
> http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html.
> 
> The GNU components in the GNU system will be released under GPL
> version 3, once it is finalized.  The licensing of Linux will be
> decided by the developers of Linux.  If they decide to stay with GPL
> version 2, then the GNU/Linux system will contain GNU packages using
> GNU GPL version 3, alongside Linux under GNU GPL version 2.  Many other
> packages with various licenses make up the full GNU/Linux system.
> 
> 
> About Free Software and Open Source
> 
> The free software movement's goal is freedom for computer users. Some,
> especially corporations, advocate a different viewpoint, known as "open
> source", which cites only practical goals such as making software
> powerful and reliable, focuses on development models, and avoids
> discussion of ethics and freedom.  These two viewpoints are different at
> the deepest level.  For more explanation, see
> http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html
> 
> The GNU GPL is used by developers with various views, but it was written
> to serve the ethical goals of the free software movement. Says Stallman,
> "The GNU GPL makes sense in terms of its purpose: freedom and social
> solidarity.  Trying to understand it in terms of the goals and values of
> open source is like trying understand a CD drive's retractable drawer as
> a cupholder.  You can use it for that, but that is not what it was
> designed for."
> 
> 
> About The Free Software Foundation
> 
> The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting
> computer users' right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute
> computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as
> in freedom) software---particularly the GNU operating system and its
> GNU/Linux variants---and free documentation for free software. The FSF
> also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of
> freedom in the use of software. Its Web site, located at www.fsf.org, is
> an important source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support
> the FSF's work can be made at http://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters
> are in Boston, MA, USA.
> 
> 
> Media contact
> 
> Brett Smith
> Licensing Compliance Engineer
> Free Software Foundation
> 617-542-5942 x18
> brett at fsf.org
> 
> ###
> 
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