Re: Mathworks-hosted GPL'd software

[Uwe Dippel]

Though I do think we had plenty of opinions here, I still feel to add to 
the discussion, since we seem to have two different items on our hands:
1. Relicensing under BSD terms
2. ToS limiting downloads to specific users only

Both should not be mixed up. For 1., we need an expert in law and 
licensing to find out if that is possible (and to all what I know, it 
is). Of course, the original contributor would have to agree, 
yadda-yadda. Could the original contributor re-license again under GPL 
(or whatever she wants)? The answer is quite undisputed and 'Yes'.
For 2., I am afraid, I would not see any reason why Mathworks could not 
restrict their downloads. I for one, can easily write an user agreement 
on my site, that the visitor does not run Safari, or is disallowed 
otherwise. I could add that the images on my side may only be used for 
editing when GIMP is used. And I could host OpenBSD 4.6, juridically 
prohibiting downloads to anyone, except the client was running Vista. I 
wouldn't even argue that the latter was against fair use.
What Mathworks cannot do, is change the license on their own account. 
What Mathworks is trying to do here, is Embrace and Extinguish. It might 
backfire, though, because on both sides of the big license divide (GPL 
and BSD), people are sensitive to taking, using, selling, and not giving 
back. I don't think that the majority of BSD-licensed projects will be 
very happy with the activities of Mathworks. On the longer run, even the 
genuine, and apolitical users of Mathworks might become unhappy, when 
finally downloads become chargeable, or impossible through binding 
access to a legally valid licence.

Uwe