xgettext (Re: replication of stuff in /usr/gnu)

[Joerg Schilling]

Nicolas Williams <Nicolas.Williams at sun.com> wrote:

> This is what the GPLv2 says:
>
> 9. The Free Software Foundation may publish revised and/or new versions
>    of the General Public License from time to time.  Such new versions
>    will be similar in spirit to the present version, but may differ in
>    detail to address new problems or concerns.
>
>    Each version is given a distinguishing version number.  If the
>    Program specifies a version number of this License which applies to
>    it and "any later version", you have the option of following the
>    terms and conditions either of that version or of any later version
>    published by the Free Software Foundation.  If the Program does not
>    specify a version number of this License, you may choose any version
>    ever published by the Free Software Foundation.
>
> "..., you have the option of following the terms and conditions either
> of that version or of any later version..."
>
> I think that's pretty darn clear, to lawyers and non-lawyers alike.
>
> Put another way, why would Sun Legal have approved *any* GPLv2 programs
> for use and/or distribution by Sun in Sun products, in development,
> etcetera, if item (9) said something more like "..., future versions
> automatically supercede earlier versions..."???

Te problem is that the FSF changes the file to read 

"...at version 3 or later..."

But of course, as the GPLv3 is nearly unreadable, we need to wait for lawyers
to read and interpret the GPLv3 text.

Jörg

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