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Apache License Updated to 2.0

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the new-and-improved dept.

Roy_Fielding writes "The Apache Software Foundation has approved an update to the open source Apache License (Version 2.0) that will be mandated across all Apache projects starting on March 1st. I have been working on variations of this license for the past three years, trying to balance the many different goals of the revision. That includes making the license easier for non-ASF projects to use, improving compatibility with GPL-based software, allowing the license to be included by reference instead of listed in every file, clarifying the license on contributions, and requiring a patent license on contributions that necessarily infringe a contributor's own patents. The result is a license that is compatible with other open source licenses, such as the GPL, and yet still remains true to the original goals of the Apache Group and supportive of collaborative development across both nonprofit and commercial organizations." While it has yet to become OSI-certified, it will probably will be so Real Soon Now, and in the meantime it's fun to compare licenses.

7 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. Different definition of fun by Smitty825 · · Score: 3, Funny

    in the meantime it's fun to compare licenses.

    I don't know about CowboyNeal, but I sure have a different definition of fun than he does!

    --

    Doh!
    1. Re:Different definition of fun by MarkusQ · · Score: 2, Funny

      Here I was thinking how much fun it was wading through diffs to try to find the subtile bug I introduced last night by coding 15 minutes past the take-your-hands-away-from-the-keyboard-and-no-one- gets-hurt point, and thinking to my self "this code may be brilliant but I won't know for sure until I remember (and document) why I wrote it this way".

      And all this time I could have been comparing licences! Doh!

      -- MarkusQ

  2. Why not... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Why not just cross-license Apache under the GPL, Apache license, MPL, LGPL, apple public source license, helix public source license, and NPL?

  3. Re:Interesting... by bobbuck · · Score: 2, Funny

    >"Whats' IAANAL mean? I Am Am Not A Lawyer?"
    I Am Also Not A Lawyer
    ITTICBOTCOTD.
    (I Think That Is Correct Based On The Context Of The Discussion.)

  4. Re:Interesting... by iomud · · Score: 3, Funny

    I read it as, "If you are native american and soux you may not wear patent leather shoes"

    I could be totally wrong.

  5. IANAL but by sniggly · · Score: 2, Funny
    it's fun to compare licenses.

    IANAL but you sure sound like one :)

    --
    Of those to whom much is given, much is required.
  6. Re:Interesting... by Larry+David · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sir, ITTTWTISGPSNAYCOAOTBPUABII. (I Think That This Whole Thread Is Getting Pretty Silly Now As You Cannot Overload Acronyms Or They Become Pretty Unreadable And Become Initialisms Instead)