Viral license: Difference between revisions

443 bytes added ,  24 November 2003
required reintegration *is* a part of making a license viral - without it, new software under new licenses can be produced, thus making the original license not apply
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(required reintegration *is* a part of making a license viral - without it, new software under new licenses can be produced, thus making the original license not apply)
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See [[GPL]] and other [[free software]] [[license]]s to understand the details of what is meant by a '''viral license'''.  Usually this term '''''does not''''' imply [[required reintegration]], which is the controversial requirement that [[open source]] objects to in both free software and [[Consortium license]] software.
See [[GPL]] and other [[free software]] [[license]]s to understand the details of what is meant by a '''viral license'''.   


[[Microsoft]] videly uses the term '''viral''' to portray both free software and consortia as being like [[computer virus]] creators, it is almost always better not use this term.
This term is '''''not well defined'''' and should be avoided.  [[Microsoft]] widely uses the term '''viral''' to portray both free software and consortia as being like [[computer virus]] creators, exploiting the confusion.
 
The term is also sometimes used to imply [[required reintegration]], which is the controversial requirement that [[open source]] objects to in both free software and [[Consortium license]] software.  When this is what is being discussed, it is far better to use this more specific term and not "'''viral'''".
 
Some think they are two separate concerns, but they aren't:  [[required reintegration]] *is* a part of making a license viral - without it, new software under new licenses can be produced, thus making the original license not apply, and thus not viral, or "as" viral, as the original.
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