Re: Licenses -- webapp users protection

[MJ Ray]

Davi Leal <address@hidden> wrote:
> MJ Ray wrote:
> > I'd love to see GNU Herds using a Free (as in near-universally
> > acclaimed as Free) Software webapp *today*, not only if it becomes
> > strong enough.
>
> What license do you propose? GPLv3?

I'd propose MIT/Expat or zlib as first choice, GPLv2+ as second
choice.

> How many of you  will start to write code tomorrow if we change today to 
> GPLv3; and for how long will you write code?

We are three at present, but won't start on this tomorrow if that's
change-day (our marketing budget is already squeezed); and we'll write
code for as long as there are bugs and we're using the service, all
else being equal.

> [...]:  I forget to comment that, IMHO,  AGPLv3 will be the best 
> license to use in this software due to using AGPLv3 will force the FSF or any 
> other hosting to offer the download of the source code to their uses. 
> Therefore users of this project will be always sure about what code manages 
> its data! That is another key point IMHO.

Sorry to tell you that I think that simply isn't so: one can't usually
prove that the code offered for download by ANOther Hosting is the one
actually used on their app.  AGPL forbids doing otherwise, but doesn't
force it.

AGPL is a massive distraction from the best ways of ensuring users
will be always sure about what code manages their data: user
participation in the project management!

(Yes, you're doing fairly well on that so far, but could go further...)

Hope that explains,
-- 
MJ Ray http://mjr.towers.org.uk/email.html tel:+44-844-4437-237 -
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