GPL 3.0 to Penalize Google, Amazon?

Michael Ferris writes "Is this the start of a shakedown by the GNU folks? Michael Singer writes that Eben Moglen and the folks rewriting the GPL are looking at a proposal where companies would be required to pay money if they use GPLed software, even if they don't redistribute the software." From the article: "The current version of the GPL, which was last updated in 1991, fails to trigger the open source license if a company alters the code, but does not distribute its software through a CD or floppy disk...the [current] rule does not apply to companies that distribute software as a service, such as Google and eBay, or even dual-license companies like Sleepycat."

Comments

Re:They deliver HTML.

[sharkey]

Right now you only have to make your source code available when you distribute via a CD. If you distribute through another technology, you don't have to open source.

Huh? How is distributing via CD licensed in a different manner than via floppy, network, DVD, etc.? Would you point out the paragraph in the GNU GPL that specifically states that it only covers software on CD?

Look at all the clever little web sites on the Internet. We don't get to see their source code on the web server.

Right-click and select "View Source".