Also Taken a step further GPL is a "copy left" license.  You do not lose
your copyright when you add your creation to a project.  You can add your
code to something and then release that same invention of yours (since you
own the copyright) to something else or by itself under a different license.


Randal is right; If you cannot claim a copyright from your contribution
because it is not novel then what you did cannot be relicensed.   

Plus if you can claim a copyright and you integrate into another GPL project
and "Distribute" that GPL project you must make it available GPL but you
could still release into something else with a different license.

IANAL

Ron Teitelbaum

> -----Original Message-----
> From: squeak-dev-bounces at lists.squeakfoundation.org [mailto:squeak-
> dev-bounces at lists.squeakfoundation.org] On Behalf Of Randal L. Schwartz
> Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 9:06 PM
> To: David T. Lewis 
> Cc: The general-purpose Squeak developers list
> Subject: Re: [squeak-dev] OpenQwak MC repo
> 
> >>>>> "David" == David T Lewis <lewis at mail.msen.com> writes:
> 
> David> Squeakers can, will, and should be involved in projects with GPL
> David> and various other license terms. Given that reality, some general
> David> guidelines as to what can or cannot be done might be helpful.
> David> My understanding is that if I create original new work, then I
> David> own the copyright. I will normally license it under MIT so that
> David> it can be included in Squeak, and with MIT license it can also be
> David> used in a GPLv2 project such as OpenQwaq. However, if I modify or
> David> make contributions to GPLv2 code in OpenQwaq, I cannot at a later
> David> time decide to call it MIT and add this code to Squeak. Is that a
> David> fair summary?
> 
> The only issue with that is "can someone who authored GPL code claim that
> your code was 'derived' from their code?" and if the answer is yes, then
no, it
> can't be Squeak core.  Keep in mind that this *may* mean cleanroom only,
as
> in that you can't even look at GPL code and be inspired, if you truly want
to
> be safe.
> 
> I'd prefer that Squeak core be safely conservative.  If you have a
question,
> we have the SFLC to rely on (unlike Pharo, who is not part of the SFC).
So, if
> you have a question, PLEASE ask a board member, and we'll carry your issue
> to the SFLC.
> 
> --
> Randal L. Schwartz - Stonehenge Consulting Services, Inc. - +1 503 777
0095
> <merlyn at stonehenge.com> <URL:http://www.stonehenge.com/merlyn/>
> Smalltalk/Perl/Unix consulting, Technical writing, Comedy, etc. etc.
> See http://methodsandmessages.posterous.com/ for Smalltalk discussion