GPL upgrades via section 14 proxy delegation
16 hours ago
- #Software Licensing
- #Open Source
- #GPL
- The text discusses licensing software under GNU General Public License (GPL) versions 3.0-only or 3.0-or-later.
- GPL-3.0-only keeps the software on version 3.0 even if newer versions are released, requiring permission from all copyright holders to change the license.
- GPL-3.0-or-later allows the software to be used under newer versions of the GPL without needing consensus from all copyright holders.
- The author proposes a solution using Section 14 of the GNU Affero General Public License, which allows designating a proxy to accept future versions of the license.
- The author includes a template for designating themselves as the proxy to accept future versions of the license, ensuring flexibility without needing consensus from all contributors.
- The text emphasizes that contributors retain copyright on their code and advises against signing Contributor License Agreements (CLAs), recommending the Developer Certificate of Origin instead.