this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2023
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What in the BSD-3 license goes against OSD exactly?
You are clearly confused. The BSD-3 isn't only "having the source", it gives you the right to package, distribute, and modify the source code at will. What it doesn't have compared to the GPL is protections from someone not sharing their modifications (for example when used in closed source products). In that sense it is more "freedom" than the GPL, but that freedom comes with a cost to the community, and in a sense the freedom afforded to the original author.
It is literally approved by the OSI itself: https://opensource.org/license/bsd-3-clause/
And yes, BSD-3 libraries are compatible with the GPL: https://fossa.com/blog/open-source-software-licenses-101-bsd-3-clause-license/
Is there a confidently wrong community on Lemmy yet?
Yes it exists: !confidently_incorrect@lemmy.world
You are correct. I'm sorry, I confused it with BSD-4 as that used to be the 3rd clause. I updated my post and thank you for calling me out.
That's still wrong though. The BSD-4 is literally FSF approved. It's just not GPL compatible and not technically OSI approved. But only on a technicality. The only difference between BSD-3 (BSD New) and BSD-4 (BSD Old) is the advertisement clause. It has nothing to do with redistribution, packaging, or modification of the code. OSI doesn't agree with the advertisement clause so it's not officially approved, doesn't mean it isn't Open Source.
That's where I disagree. While it's true that the only difference is the GPL complience it's definetely against the spirit of open source and OSD. So it is source available license, but calling it open source is a stretch. The simple fact that it renders it unsable for GPL projects go against what open source stands for.
True as that maybe be, your original statement "BSD-4" is not open source is still completely wrong, plain and simple. BSD-4 is not just having access to the source, it gives you significant rights over the source as well. The incompatibility lie with a technicality, an inconvenient one, but a technicality nontheless. Even the FSF agrees.
I do agree with you that 4-clause BSD is open-source, but only just barely, and I agree with GP that it goes against the spirit of FOSS even if it is technically "open-source".
Plus the advertising clause is just an obnoxious thing to have in a license regardless.