Re: [pbmserv-dev] Questions of pbmserv copyright, etc. etc.

[Richard Rognlie <rrognlie@gamerz.net>]

On Wed, Jul 11, 2001 at 09:46:17AM +0100, Stephen Tavener wrote:
> As a new developer on pbmserv, my code will be carrying a notice
> something like the following:
> 
> /*
>  * Code (c) Stephen Tavener (stephen@scat.demon.co.uk), 2001.  
>  * TAMSK (c) Kris Burm 1997.  
>  *
>  * Permission is given to modify this code for the purpose
>  * of enhancing Richard Rognlie's PBMSERV, either by adding new
>  * functionality to the TAMSK module, or as a base for a new game.  
>  * If you wish to use the code for any other purposes, ASK!  
>  *
>  * All moral rights asserted.
>  */
> 
> ... moral rights are (as far as I know) an EU thing - the author has the
> right to be identified as such, and has some control if the work is used
> for an unintended purpose.

Cool!  I like it!  It seems to satisfy the spirit of what I'm trying to
do as well.  The only thing I might suggest is a clause concerning
conditions under which I can use it as well.  e.g.  So long as pbmserv
is *free*.  But if I were to shutdown, and start a commercial, subscription
based version, you'd reserve the right to transfer "control" of the code
elsewhere.

> The main reasons I don't like the GPL?  
> 1. My programs are my children - I like to know what's happening to
> them.  

Amen!  I suspect it's partly an ego thing as well.  I know it is in
my case

> 2. I may wish to re-use some of the code later in a commercial program,
> which may become tricky if there are copyright-free version floating
> around. 

Agreed.  Yes, GPL is not copyright "free", but it does make a later
commercial version trickier to accomplish.  But a license like the
above seems to accomplish the same thing.  It's available.  Can be
disseminated for the purpose of code examination, and addition of
functionality and correction of bugs.

> 3. I'd like to make sure that nothing I write gets used for purposes to
> which I'm opposed (slavery, cruelty to animals, and politics spring to
> mind)...

Interesting, but hard to enforce...  8^)  After all... I'm a Libertarian.

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