Re: [gNewSense-users] KFV: GPL without version - does COPYING apply or not?

[Markus Laire]

Sam Geeraerts wrote:
> Markus Laire wrote:
> > Well, it's not that simple in this case because COPYING says "Also 
> > note that the only valid version of the GPL as far as the kernel is 
> > concerned is _this_ particular version of the license (ie v2, not v2.2 
> > or v3.x or whatever), unless explicitly otherwise stated."
> >
> > So if the file was written specifically for Linux Kernel, by just 
> > mentioning GPL author could've meant "GPL as specified in COPYING 
> > file" since he doesn't "explicitly state otherwise".
> >
> > Or author could've meant "GPL, any version"
> Good point, I see how that could be confusing. I think that statement in 
> COPYING means that in the context of the Linux kernel all code that can 
> be treated as GPLv2 (e.g. license is Just GPL or modified BSD) must be 
> treated as GPLv2. That restriction does not apply outside the Linux 
> kernel. So your statement is not wrong for this purpose.

If, by stating "GPL", the author meant "GPL as specified in COPYING 
file" (i.e. GPLv2 only), then _that_ is the license of the file, and it 
will apply also outside of the kernel.

IMO the statement in COPYING-file clearly means that when ever (within 
Linux Kernel) GPL is mentioned without explicit version, or GPLv2 is 
mentioned without explicit "or later", those both will mean "only GPLv2" 
and nothing else.

> As for the "explicitly otherwise stated" part: a copyright holder can 
> explicitly choose another version of the GPL for their code if they want 
> to. But neither GPLv1 nor GPLv3 are compatible with GPLv2, so this 
> option is useless.

Copyright holder can also explicitly state "GPLv2 or later" in which 
case COPYING-file clearly doesn't apply.

--
Markus Laire