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Section still needs work, but this is better.

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Bradley M. Kuhn 2014-03-20 21:38:59 -04:00
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compliance-guide.tex
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@ -744,21 +744,33 @@ generalizations and do not all apply to every alleged violation.
\section{Understanding Who's Enforcing} \section{Understanding Who's Enforcing}
\label{compliance-understanding-whos-enforcing} \label{compliance-understanding-whos-enforcing}
% FIXME: this text needs work. % FIXME-LATER: this text needs work.
At FSF, it is part of the mission to spread software freedom. When FSF Both FSF and Conservancy has, as part their mission, to spread software
freedom. When FSF or Conservancy
enforces GPL, the goal is to bring the violator back into compliance as enforces GPL, the goal is to bring the violator back into compliance as
quickly as possible, and redress the damage caused by the violation. quickly as possible, and redress the damage caused by the violation.
That is FSF's steadfast position in a violation negotiation --- comply That is FSF's steadfast position in a violation negotiation --- comply
with the license and respect freedom. with the license and respect freedom.
However, other entities who do not share the full ethos of software However, other entities who do not share the full ethos of software freedom
freedom as institutionalized by FSF pursue GPL violations differently. as institutionalized by FSF pursue GPL violations differently. Oracle, a
MySQL AB, a company that produces the GPL'd MySQL database, upon company that produces the GPL'd MySQL database, upon discovering GPL
discovering GPL violations typically negotiates a proprietary software violations typically negotiates a proprietary software license separately for
license separately for a fee. While this practice is not one that FSF a fee. While this practice is not one that FSF nor Conservancy would ever
would ever consider undertaking or even endorsing, it is a legal way for consider undertaking or even endorsing, it is a legally way for copyright
copyright holders to proceed. holders to proceed.
Generally, GPL enforcers come in two varieties. First, there are
Conservancy, FSF, and other ``community enforcers'', who primary seek the
policy goals of GPL (software freedom), and see financial compensation as
ultimately secondary to those goals. Second, there are ``for-profit
enforcers'' who use the GPL as a either a crippleware license, or sneakily
induce infringement merely to gain proprietary licensing revenue.
Note that the latter model \texit{only} works for companies who hold 100\% of
the copyrights in the infringed work. As such, multi-copyright-held works
are fully insulated from these tactics.
\section{Communication Is Key} \section{Communication Is Key}