CinePaint License
Robin.Rowe@MovieEditor.com 
May 28, 2006

CinePaint is free open source software. The preferred license for new code 
is BSD. Unfortunately, because we reuse code from many sources CinePaint is 
a mix of licenses:

	BSD: Unrestrictive open source license, free really means free
	MPL: Standard for code from the University of Glasgow
	GPL: An aggressive open source license that tries to make everything GPL
	LGPL: The middle ground between BSD and GPL, intended for libs
	
Please refer to individual source files for specifics. For information
on licenses generally see http://opensource.org.

Why prefer BSD? What's wrong with GPL?

The restrictions on GPL/LGPL make it a much less desirable license if you 
aren't the original author. GPL isn't really free because the author 
maintains control of it in many ways. One trouble with GNU is that if 
some code is on the wrong side of the GPL/LGPL fence it can't be moved. 
Unless you're the original author or can get his permission you are stuck 
with the original design due to license restrictions. For instance, nobody 
but GIMP can redesign GIMP without rewriting it from scratch. Our 
experience with GIMP is that it isn't known who the author was or it will 
be someone extremely hostile to outsiders. While it may be a good thing 
to completely rewrite software from time to time, it seems a lot of work 
to demand of volunteers.

The Free Software Foundation recommends that anyone who uses the GNU 
license seek competent legal help to resolve any questions (of which 
there are plenty if you try to reuse code with multiple licenses). 
However, following that sound advice is impossible. Few free software 
projects can afford a qualified IP attorney at $250+/hr. 

There's been emotional argument by GPL advocates that their license 
will somehow force evil people to be good, but nothing bad has happened 
to FreeBSD. 

What's the difference between copyright and license?

The copyright holder is the owner and gets to decide the license. That's
typically the creator with open source software, but sometimes authors
assign their rights to the Free Software Foundation. Only the copyright 
holder can change the license. If the copyright holder is unknown or
can't be found the license can't be changed except by starting over.

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