On Tue, 7 May 2002 winedev@admdev.com wrote: [...]
And the code exchange idea seems fundementally flawed. In theory, the concept is sound. In practice, the examples I've heard are very unrealistic.
[...]
The code exchange idea is sound only if the number of copyright holders is limited (typically 2 or 3). But this is not the case, and more than any balance problem this is the fundamental flaw of this idea.
From the example you cited, let's assume that a DIB engine is supposed
to be given to the X11 tree in exchange for some other piece of code. A DIB engine is no small piece of code and will not be developped by a single individual but more by something like 10+ developpers.
To 'give' it to the X11 tree you have to have the agreement of all 10 developpers. Even if there is a 70% chance that each of them will agree to relicense their code (which seems overly optimistic), there is only a 2.8% chance that all 10 will agree.
Then you have to hack and slash into the code to remove the contributions of all those who oppose the exchange, and work on replacing them. Urgh.
-- Francois Gouget fgouget@free.fr http://fgouget.free.fr/ Demander si un ordinateur peut penser revient à demander si un sous-marin peut nager.