Re: (no subject)

Den 07/07/10 15.36, Schmidt, Mihael skrev:

<quote>
What happens to the product if, during a dispute, the open source component is no longer available to the Vendor?
</quote>

That is the great thing about open source. Because it is open source they can't just stop distributing the same version as open source. The code version which has been distributed as open source has to stay open source. If all contributing parties agree on a license change future releases may not be open source anymore. But the user of open source always has the right to get the open sourced version of the code.

Not quite. They can withdraw the software and stop distributing it, and stop coming with future versions as open source. Those with the copyright can do what they want with their code.

But the software which is downloaded from the vendor, can be further modified and perhaps even forked if the vendor does the withdrawal stunt, but those who do so does not have the copyright and cannot alter the licence. Only the copyright holder can do that. This is why it was so important that Java was released by Sun as GPL, as it allows Java to survive even if Oracle had chosen to close it down.

So, you do not have a _right_ to get open source licenced versions of a given piece of software in all future, but you have the right to do what the license says you can do, even if the vendor changes its mind. That is usually worded very directly in all licenses qualifying as open source licenses exactly for this purpose.