Re: GPL V3 and Linux - Dead Copyright Holders

[Chase Venters <chase.venters@clientec.com>]

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On Thu, 26 Jan 2006, Diego Calleja wrote:

> El Thu, 26 Jan 2006 17:59:01 +0000 (GMT),
> Paul Jakma <paul@clubi.ie> escribió:
>
>> That's not what section 9 seems to say. The default is "any version
>> you like".
>
> That's not exactly what it says.
>
> The real text is (emphasis mine): "_IF_ the Program does not specify
> a version number of this License, you may choose any version ever
> published by the Free Software Foundation."
>
>
> Before that it says: "Each version is given a distinguishing version
> number.  If the Program specifies a version number of this License
> which applies to it and "any later version", you have the option of
> following the terms and conditions either of that version or of any
> later version published by the Free Software Foundation"
>
>
> IOW, such rules will aply if no version has been specified or
> if has the "any later version" addon. Which is not the case:
> I can read "GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE, Version 2, June 1991".
>

It's possible there may be something I'm not understanding. I do recognize 
that the license has a version number on it.

But then again, so did GPLv1. And it also had the same section 9 clause.

So the question is - why would the GPL need a clause that says "You can 
use any version of the GPL if the Program does not specify a version" when 
every official version of the GPL includes a version number? Are they 
expecting authors to strip the version number header in order to somehow 
take advantage of section 9?

Cheers,
Chase