[Fsfe-uk] Re: GPL'ing old versions of code

[Richard Ibbotson]

Dave

> Out of idle curiosity, I wondered if this would be allowed under
> the GPL. Assuming that the v2 code reuses a lot of the internal
> code from v1, then once v1 is GPL'd, and v2 statically links to it,
> doesn't the GPL cover v2 as well?


As I understand the GPL if you first of all produce an application 
that is GPL'd then you have to completely re-write it for version 2.

This is okay because most accounting packages are completely 
re-written every time a new release comes along.  Part of the 
marketing pitch of companies like Sage is that they have re-written 
it to make their application more secure than it was.

So, I think Miguel de Icaza's arguement about re-use of code doesn't 
quite fit in with accountancy packages ?  Probably GNUcash but then 
it isn't completely re-written every time and the marketing people 
couldn't call it secure enough.  Then again there's the Government 
PKI argument which says that accountancy packages will be secure.

Thanks



-- 
Richard