From: epa AT datcon DOT co DOT uk (Ed Avis) Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp Subject: Re: GPL or my own copyright? Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 14:18:25 GMT Organization: UUNet UK server (post doesn't reflect views of UUNet UK) Lines: 23 Message-ID: <34ba25ba.16379612@news-direct> References: <51CC8BA6EC01D1118E3200A024B9625B3BC0BB AT mailhost DOT Probe DOT co DOT uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: web-proxy.datcon.co.uk To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com DJ-Gateway: from newsgroup comp.os.msdos.djgpp Precedence: bulk On Mon, 12 Jan 1998 09:30:39 -0000, Shawn Hargreaves wrote: >> What is the difference between protecting my software with GPL >> license and my own copyright? >If you are planning on making a similar copyright of your own, >the GPL does have a couple of advantages: it has been carefully >checked so you can be sure there are no legal loopholes, and >most people are familiar enough with it that they will know >exactly what is allowed as soon as they see it is GPL, rather >than needing to read your exact terms in detail... Also, it makes it possible to incorporate code from other, GPL'd programs into your program, and makes it easier for others to use what you have written as part of new free software without having five different licenses to deal with. Don't forget you can release stuff under two different licenses, the GPL and your own license, like Perl for example. -- Ed Avis