[Haskell-cafe] Apache license, any drawbacks for Haskell packages?

[Magnus Therning]

On Mon, May 9, 2011 at 10:10, Max Rabkin <max.rabkin at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Mon, May 9, 2011 at 10:59, Jason Dagit <dagitj at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Sun, May 8, 2011 at 1:25 PM, Magnus Therning <magnus at therning.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Are there any drawbacks to using the Apache license for Haskell
>>> packages?
>>
>> I don't think so.  It looks to be almost identical to using BSD3, which is
>> already quite popular for haskellers.
>
> I would consider this, in itself, to be a small but significant
> disadvantage. Anyone who uses Haskell is going to know (and probably
> be comfortable with) the BSD3 license. If I find Apache-licensed code,
> I now have to look that up, determine the differences between it and
> BSD3, find out whether it's compatible with the GPL and BSD3.
>
> Basically, the cost of introducing *any* new license to a software
> ecosystem is non-zero. Of course, a widespread license like Apache is
> better than making up your own.

Yes, I agree with that, both points.  The code is for a tool (not a
library).  In the past I'd just release it under GPL, but I thought
I'd take a closer look at the Apache license, based on a discussion I
had a few weeks ago.

/M

-- 
Magnus Therning                      OpenPGP: 0xAB4DFBA4
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