[PATCH libxkbcommon 0/2] Use flex and bison features

[Daniel Stone]

Hi,

On 24 February 2012 21:20, Miles Bader <miles at gnu.org> wrote:
> Some xorg contributors have expressed what are essentially irrational
> objections to even _using_ GPLv3 tools.
>
> The one I encountered previously was from Apple, and apparently Apple
> itself is pushing this crap (whether due to ignorance or simply spite,
> I don't know).

I wouldn't single Apple out.  It's a very very common objection - I
can't even count the number of companies I know who refuse to touch
GPLv3 code and roll back to GPLv2 so they are completely clean, on two
hands, let alone one.  As a general rule, large legal departments are
absolutely terrified of GPLv3.

> I'm not sure why such people have been accorded veto power over what
> xorg itself does...

For exactly the same reason that OpenBSD had a veto over the v1
patchset because they want xkbcommon to be buildable with the
BSD-licensed lex/yacc, and have had in the past over GNU make
extensions.  Apple are also a very prolific and very useful
contributor to the X server, so I'm really not too interested in
putting them in a position where their legal department says they have
to fork.

Cheers,
Daniel