Licensing problem

[a thing]

I've got a script that's about 75 lines that I want to release under the GNU GPL. But then I'd have to put it in an archive with the GNU GPL, and the point of the script is to be easy for even a Unix newbie. Any suggestions?

[dylunio]

I'd say it's a part of the GPL and then put the web address to http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html beside it.

[Vergil83]

What if the work is not much longer than the license itself?
If a single program is that short, you may as well use a simple all-permissive license for it, rather than the GNU GPL.

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq....tIfWorkIsShort
There are two options are (as I see it). They are to release it under a compatible license or to modify the GPL so you don't have to include the actual license (then it won't be the GPL).

[dylunio]

I'd say it's a part of the GPL and then put the web address to http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html beside it.

Reading http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq....hyMustIInclude it seems that giving the URL isn't good enough unless you have the version of the GPL on a sever which will never change URL untill the internet comes to an end

[a thing]

Hrm, would this license work:

Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software provided that the above copyright notice is not removed and the used, copied, modified or redistributed software is under the terms of this license, or at your option, the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

[Vergil83]

Hrm, would this license work:

Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software provided that the above copyright notice is not removed and the used, copied, modified or redistributed software is under the terms of this license, or at your option, the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

So, is this license just "Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software provided that the above copyright notice is not removed", with the request that future additions be released under the GPL if possible?

[a thing]

Not exactly. If it would actually be long enough to be released under the GNU GPL, then the license lets you do that, but otherwise, the same license is fine.

To get rid of that ambiguity, I added the line:
"It is recommended to use the GNU General Public License only when the software is longer than the GNU General Public License, for the GNU General Public License requires that the license is included with the software, not just linked to."

So now the whole license is:
Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software provided that the above copyright notice is not removed and the used, copied, modified or redistributed software is under the terms of this license, or at your option, the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

It is recommended to use the GNU General Public License only when the software is longer than the GNU General Public License, for the GNU General Public License requires that the license is included with the software, not just linked to.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

Thoughts before I publish this?

[Vergil83]

Ok, I understand now. Looks like the best solution.

[a thing]

OK, here's the script. It's an installer for Nexuiz.

[Vergil83]

OK, here's the script. It's an installer for Nexuiz.

Cool