[Geany] Plugin licensing

[John Gabriele]

On Jan 5, 2008 9:28 AM, Frank Lanitz <linux at partysoke.de> wrote:
> On Fri, 4 Jan 2008 10:44:47 -0600
> "Jeff Pohlmeyer" <yetanothergeek at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > On Jan 4, 2008 8:23 AM, Enrico Tröger <enrico.troeger at uvena.de> wrote:
> >
> > > But I suggest any further discussion on this topic
> > > should be done in a new thread.
> >
> > I don't know if it really merits its own thread,
> > but here goes...
> >
> >
> > > The easiest thing would be to remove this phrase
> > > but are we allowed to?
> >
> > I would say you can, unless somebody who contributed
> > to geany in the past objects to it. If they do, you
> > can either add the phrase back in again, or simply
> > remove or re-implement the code they contributed.
>
> I agree. But I'm still not sure, if it is really necessary, since GPLv2
> is a part of GPLv2 or later.
>
> But I see another problem: If Geany is GPLv2 only there might will be
> problems with Plugins written under conditions of GPLv3, since v2 is
> not completly compatible to v3.
>
> > > Besides any lethal considerations which I don't know,
> > > in my opinion the choice of the licence of plugins
> > > is independent from Geany's licence as long as it is
> > > compatible with GPLv2.
> >
> > I agree, as long as the plugin is distributed separately.
> > But if a plugin's source is distributed along with Geany,
> > then it would add the extra burden of explaining any small
> > nuances between the way the plugin interprets the GPL
> > (v2 only) and the way Geany currently sees it (v2 or later)
> >
> > I suppose that's still not a problem, just a possible
> > source of confusion.
>
> That's true.
>
> I suppose to keep GPLv2 or any later so the distributor can decide,
> which licence he like to choice. Also to setup a paypal-account to
> collect money to ask a lawyer, what's the best :D

This subject has, of course, been discussed at length at the fsf
website: http://www.fsf.org/licensing/education

Regarding the "or later" clause, the GPL faq has this to say about it:
http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/gpl-faq.html#VersionThreeOrLater

And regarding plug-ins:
http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLAndPlugins

---John