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Making The GPL Easier For Companies To Swallow
stupidNewbie writes "There is a new GPL "wrapper" gaining momentum on Capitol Hill. Dubbed O-STEP, the Open Source Threshold Escrow Program allows vendors to license their products until so many millions are made, then agree to release the code under GPL. This sounds like a good bridge for companies looking to tap into the strengths of open source distribution." Starting from zero, it can certainly gain momentum quickly -- sounds like a good idea though.
...because it seems I've seen this episode before!
Perhaps there are so many cooks in the slashdot editorial kitchen that a few dishes get made twice due to lack of communication...
A reasonable code escrow system will be a gov't office that recieves source code, and that enters it into the public domain once a pre-set revenue from the project is met.
The GPL IS NOT PUBLIC DOMAIN.
The BSD license comes much closer to public domain, as it has less restrictions on use. True public domain software would not require the feedback into the community that corporations dislike (it's hard to give away your IP that you've paid a lot of money for).
Mooniacs for iOS and Android
Ive never understood the point of bitching about a story being a dupe. WHO CARES!!! If you have read it before , DONT READ IT AGAIN. Some people may not have caught it the first time. Ever notice they play the same news at 11pm as they did at 5?
The PC World article linked to never mentions the GNU GPL. The article says that under the plan the software will be "released under an open source license".
For all we know, this could be another way to get corporations to create and distribute software under self-interested Open Source non-Free Software licenses like the APSL. Or this could be a way to get more software released into freedom under Free Software licenses including the GNU GPL that also appear on OSI's acceptable license list. The statements quoted in the PC World article are too vague to jump to saying this will produce more GPL-covered software.
Digital Citizen
If someone uses GPL code, they have to make their mods to it available now, not after earning some supposed amount of money.
That's true, but that's not what this is about. The idea being discussed is that a company writes software and releases it under a proprietary licence. Then, once it has sold some certain number of units, they re-release it under an open source licence.
There's no question of using GPL code and releasing it closed-source - it's exactly the other way around. Taking an established, closed-source product and making it open source. Don't think "GPL violation", think Quake.
It's official. Most of you are morons.