[cwyers]

These aren't mutually exclusive thoughts; for GPL-licensed content, the ability to relicense the code is pretty much the only benefit that ownership confers over the GPL. It seems strange to assert that having this ability adds value for Canonical in an acquisition, if the acquirer isn't interested in using it.

Now, I have no problem with anyone who wants to sign the CLA and believes that Canonical is acting in good faith. But Canonical is asking for additional value from contributed code than what the GPL provides, and isn't compensating people for this value. Some people have a problem with that, and it makes it harder for Canonical-hosted projects to get community involvement or to be adopted by other distros, where maintainers have to choose between signing a CLA so patches get accepted upstream or continuing to maintain their patches themselves.

[reidrac]

First of all, thanks for the comment. Down-votes don't add too much to the conversation.

I agree with you, but I remember reading that argument backing the CLA (defense in court, to increase the value of the company in case they want to sell it and to be able to close the code); I can't find a link though.