[Leaplist] Novell again

[Fred Moore]

On Tuesday 05 December 2006 11:18, Damien McKenna wrote:
> On 12/5/06 11:09 AM, Fred Moore wrote:
> >> They're *not* forking OOo, they're creating alternative builds with a
> >> new default save format, big deal.
> >
> > Anytime code changes from the base code of a project ie: developed or I
> > should say changed and redestributed outside the standard project release
> > tree I consider it a fork.   What do you consider a fork?.. Fred
>
> That strict definition then means that every distro out there that has ever
> created released forks of the software on their CDs.  I consider it a fork
> when a separate project is spun off with its own name, etc, instead Novell
> is just bundling a new exporter which they'll also be feeding back to the
> original project when they get that far.  The "GPL-pure" releases of the
> Mozilla projects are forks, I don't consider Novell's actions to be a fork
> of OOo.

First off every distro according to the GPL must supply source for anything 
they supply.  I seem to remember that FSF took exception to one of the 
distro's saying "just obtain debian source code" as an inaproporate answer. 
Don't remember who the distro was.. perhaps someone here remembers. 
 
However it seems that my strict definition applies here as the GPL requires 
they they as the changer and distributer of the origional or new modified 
code must provide origional source plus source code to the modifications.  
The GPL does not mention anything about changing the name..  It also doesn't 
go into changes to code that *may* effect the origional some time in the 
future.  You also assume which I don't  that 1) They will be feeding it back 
and 2) The changes will be accepted. From watching the OO development list 
these changes may not be accepted if and when they do release the changes.  
People are not happy about this.   

Even when RedHat makes changes to the kernel they modify the name, and they 
provide source.  While its not referred to as a "fork" it is by strict 
definition.   They must provide the source, I'm sure this doesn't make them 
happy, but it does make centOS happy. 
Their kernel changes may or not be accepted by the main kernel tree. Some are 
and some are not. 

I still consider it a fork as do many, perhaps I should use the term "the 
97%" ....Fred


>
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