Why is the original BSD license incompatible with the GPL?
Because it imposes a specific requirement that is not in the GPL; namely, the requirement on advertisements of the program. Section 6 of GPLv2 states: You may not impose any further restrictions on the recipients’ exercise of the rights granted herein. GPLv3 says something similar in section 10. The advertising clause provides just such a further restriction, and thus is GPL-incompatible. The revised BSD license does not have the advertising clause, which eliminates the problem.
Related Questions
- If the Open Source Edition is GNU GPL, aren there license conflicts with incompatible open source licenses? How come people can even run commercial software like the Opera web browser with it?
- If the Free Edition is GNU GPL, aren there license conflicts with incompatible open source licenses? How come people can even run commercial software like the Opera web browser with it?
- Why is the original BSD license incompatible with the GPL?
