Open-source Licensing: BSD or GPL?

BSDForums.org writes "Mark Brewer of Covalent Technologies argues BSD is better for the enterprise. As open source licensing models, both the Berkeley Software Distribution license and the General Public License have advantages and disadvantages. But in the end, the BSD offers more benefits to enterprise customers. Matt Asay of Novell makes the case for GPL. He says, no one open source license is ideal in every circumstance. Different licenses serve different ends. Berkeley Software Distribution-style licenses have been used to govern the development of exceptional open source projects such as Apache. Clearly, BSD has its strengths. However, all things being equal, he prefers the General Public License (GPL ). The GPL is one of the most exciting, innovative capitalist tools ever created. The GPL breaks down walls between vendors and customers while enabling strong competitive differentiation. Which is a better licensing model for open-source applications: BSD or GPL? What do you think?"

Comments

OMFG, they actually asked what we think about this

[Fox_1]

I swear to god my jaw dropped when I read the article summary, at first I was excited by the idea of some differing views being presented on the different license models, but then I hit the last line
"Which is a better licensing model for open-source applications: BSD or GPL? What do you think?"
Please for the love of god remember the children when you post.

Which is better?

[Anonymous Coward]

I wish to edit my open source license files. Which is a better editor for this purpose, Emacs or Vi?

Re:Which is better?

[Kethinov]

I wish to edit my open source license files. Which is a better editor for this purpose, Emacs or Vi?

Do it with Microsoft Word so you can have irony++.

Re:Licensing genes.

[Fox_1]

"Please for the love of god remember the children when you post."

So should we license our children under the BSD license, or the GPL one?

Really depends on the source I think. My fiance doesn't let me share my source anymore, and I certainly don't contribute it back to the tree, shudder.

Better question yet

[ari_j]

Which is the best flamefest?

BSD License vs. GPL
Linux vs. FreeBSD
Emacs vs. vi
C++ vs. Java
Python vs. Perl
PHP vs. Ruby on Rails
Microsoft vs. SCO

Re:Better question yet

[44BSD]

The worst thing about the GPL is it is from the same folks who brought the world Emacs. The BSD licencse, to its credit, is from the people who brought us vi, a vastly superior editor. :^)

Re:Danger Will Robinson, Danger!

[AlexMidn1ght]

Would it kill people to speak in normal sentences instead of Market Speak(TM)?

I think Market Speak(TM) revolutionizes leading-edge initiatives by deploying mesh synergistic relationships and innovates in user-centric niches by enabling strategy scalable streamlined virtual communities and transition collaborative deliverables!

Shock news!

[nagora]

Companies say they like people to work for free.

"Frankly, we resent the air our programmers use up; how come that's not mentioned in thet Coyote agreement thing we hear about?" said a spokesman.

In other news, it was found that people like to be given free money and have sex with beautiful people.

TWW

Re:Danger Will Robinson, Danger!

[Scarblac]

I would have been proud, if I hadn't spelled "their" as "there" on the next line... *bangs head on keyboard*