Re: [OS:N:] GPL Question

On Fri, 2003-11-07 at 15:02, Chris Spencer wrote:
> You can make changes and updates to your software and then release that
> under another license if you choose at some point in the future.

The "making changes and updates" step is not necessary. You can release
the same bit-for-bit version under a different license at any point if
you so desire. As the copyright owner, you own that work and are free to
do with it whatever you wish. However, once your GPLed version is out,
you cannot recall it or revoke it, as long as the licensees are not
breaking the license agreement.

E.g. if I wrote a GPL-licensed tool, but some company contacted me and
asked if they could use it in their proprietary project, it is entirely
in my power to tell them "no, go away," or "yes, but it will cost you a
lot of money." There doesn't have to be any difference between the GPL
version and the proprietary version (except for the text of the
license).

This is why it is important to distinguish licenses and copyrights. The
creator of the work retains copyrights, unless they are specifically
transferred to another person or entity. The owner of the copyright
decides what licenses to put on his work.

Regards,
-- 
Konstantin ("Icon") Riabitsev
Duke University Physics Sysadmin

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