Pawnslinger wrote:
Then the GPL does not apply. You should remove it. In my opinion, the GPL is meaningless in this situation, it was created with the idea that there was someone or some company that held a copyright... and wished to retain the copyright, but distribute the product for the benefit of others. In my opinion, if what you describe is true, then the GPL is totally meaningless in this context.
But surely someone pays the bills? Someone provides this forum? Someone administers the project? So there must be someone who is (or considers himself) the proprietor. Even if all decisions are made democratically, the buck still stops some place. Or more accurately, the buck comes from someplace!
Huh, what?! Are you a lawyer? Do you have a close personal relationship with Richard Stallman? If the answer to either of these is no, then you don't have the necessary credentials to make such a proclamation. Of coarse you did say "in my opinion", so here's another opinion for you. The GPL was designed to protect a piece of collective work from being misappropriated by some entity and used without that entity contributing back to the original work. A copyright, does not have to protect an individuals right to ownership. In the case of the GPL, it insures the continued survival of a piece of work that has no owner.
Regarding administration. Yes, there are administrators and other volunteers who help in various aspects. Bills are paltry and are supported by the small amount of ad revenue generated by these forums. Who these people are changes as people come and go. If a maintainer of of a critical resource (like the forums) decides to leave, one of the other current participants in the project steps up to fill the gap or we solicit for new blood. In the case of decisions about project direction, we usually come to a consensus through discussion and persuasion. But if we ever came to an impasse, there would be a vote.
Regarding bucks, as I mentioned, the bills are paltry. HandBrake does not accept donations and does not charge for software or support. Any necessary hardware has historically been provided by one of the contributors to the project.
HandBrake is a hobby. We all have lives and jobs outside the HandBrake sphere and most of us can afford to spend only a few hours a week on this effort. If it required the resources of a business, none of us would be here. It just wouldn't be fun any more.