1/25/2006

GPL 3 Draft: Where There's Smoke

"In the run-up to the release of GPL3, Eben Moglen of the Free Software Foundation sought to calm anyone concerned by noting that the changes would be very small – so small, in fact, that everyone would wonder why there was any cause for alarm about the terms of GPL3. Well, the initial draft of GPL3 has now been released...

Taken altogether, it’s not clear that GPL3 is a minor extension of GPL2. Perhaps a better way to characterize it would be to say that GPL3 reflects GPL2 concepts, but updated for today’s technology environment of software patents, downloadable content, and global Internet access. GPL3 is consistent with the longstanding principles of the FSF; however, some of its requirements may be difficult to accept for organizations interested in using GPL3-licensed code..."

Read more in this article by Bernard Golden for Tech LinkLetter.