[olug] Political statements and other oddities in software licenses

[Obi-Wan]

> Take a look at this software license: 
> http://www.wiili.org/index.php/GlovePIE#Copyright_Notice
> 
> For those that don't want to follow the link, here are some highlights:
> - You may not use this software directly or indirectly for any military purpose.
> - You may not export this software to Israel, or use it in Israel
> - Missionaries may not use this software
> 
> What do you all think of pushing your political (or whatever else) agenda 
> in your software licenses? Is this the right thing to do? Is this an 
> effective way to raise awareness about the issues you care about the most?

I think addressing anything other than legal and commercial issues in
a EULA is pretty silly, personally.  You're certainly entitled to put
anything you want in the EULA for software that you create, but expecting
people to read it -- let alone follow it -- is another matter entirely.
I think the best you can hope for with the above license is to give people
a little chuckle.

I've been at this open source software thing for almost 20 years now,
and I can't say that I've ever read the entire text of a license.

-- 
Ben "Obi-Wan" Hollingsworth                             obiwan at jedi.com
   The stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the
     Giver of all good things, so if I stand, let me stand on the
       promise that You will pull me through.  -- Rich Mullins