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Revising the GPL

Posted by michael on from the foundation-documents dept.

Exstatica writes "Finally, an update to that slightly outdated GPL (General Public License). This story discusses a few changes that the new GPL will include. Will the new GPL draw users to it, rather then using other licenses such as Apache's License or the Netscape Public License?"

5 of 434 comments (clear)

  1. ASL by gtrubetskoy · · Score: 5, Interesting


    The recently released Apache Software License (ASL) 2.0 already includes a patent clause. To the best of my understanding the ASL does not have anything in it against patents per se, but ASL's patent clause is only triggered when actual patent litigation occurs. This, as well as an interpretation of the current GPL patent stance is explained in great detail here.

    1. Re:ASL by jolyonr · · Score: 5, Funny

      35/M/London

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  2. Question by mmport80 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    AFAIK most GPL licensed software is governed by the current GPL license "or later". What is stopping anyone from writing their own GPL 3.0 license?? Does RMS have some sort of monopoly over the license or is it a community thing??? John.

  3. To quote Linus Torvalds... by Jerk+City+Troll · · Score: 5, Informative

    Linus, in a recent interview, says:

    I really want a license to do just two things: make the code available to others, and make sure that improvements stay that way. That's really it. Nothing more, nothing less. Everything else is fluff.
    ...
    And the thing is, in my fuzzy "cannot plan his way out of a cardboard box" world, I don't worry too much about the next version of the GPL. I'm not a lawyer, I don't worry about the exact wording. In many ways, my only gripe with the GPL has been how many words it seems to need to say something very simple. That seems to be a common theme in any legal situation.

    What else is there to say?

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  4. Thank you RMS. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful
    As much as you have been criticized for being an extremist in these matters, you deserve great credit for always being a visionary way ahead of his time. For example, how many people thought The Right To Read was utter nonsense when you published it long before the DMCA.

    Thank you much for your vision and steadfastness in sticking to it.