Re: Is forcing "upstream" distribution really OK for free software?

[Martin Dickopp]

John Hasler <john@dhh.gt.org> writes:

> Martin Dickopp writes:
>> This can put a large burden on the developer; for example, I
>> cannot publish the modification and then throw the program (and
>> modification) away, instead I have to keep a copy, make backups,
>> etc, so that I can later fulfill the request.
>
> I would deal with this by sending the original author copies of my
> changes unasked.

Depends on what the license actually says.  If it says, "you must send
your modifications to the original author whenever he requests it",
you don't have this choice.

Also, think of what Debian calls the "Tentacles of Evil test": If the
original author has the right to request modifications more than once,
he can make the user's life very miserable if he becomes evil.

Martin