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GPL 3 May Require Websites to Relinquish Code

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the long-time-coming dept.

Vicissidude writes "At present, companies that distribute GPL-licensed software must make the source code publicly available, including any modifications they've made. Though the rule covers many businesses that use GPL-licensed software for commercial ends, it doesn't cover Web companies that use such software to offer their services through the Web, as they're not actually distributing the software. GPL 3, the next version of the free software license, a draft of which is expected to be released in early 2006, may close this loophole, GPL author and Free Software Foundation head Richard Stallman said in an interview."

7 of 574 comments (clear)

  1. Fine. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Fine. I'll just get my clients to use gopher.
    How do you like THOSE apples, Mr. GNU?

    1. Re:Fine. by bonch · · Score: 0, Funny

      That's GNU/apple.

  2. Re:Huge Security Issue! by aussie_a · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah, my site was used as an example. Thankyou very much for grabbing onto it like a rabid terrier and not letting go.

  3. Re:It won't effect the average user by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Mod parent informative... I now have Quake 3 running on Linux :-)

  4. GPL and apple by weicco · · Score: 2, Funny

    So I have this apple in my proprietary tree, which I decide to release under GPL3... Now if I eat the apple and next mornign go to the toilet, is my poop licensed under GPL3 also?

    --
    You don't know what you don't know.
  5. Re:Loophole? by flosofl · · Score: 2, Funny

    ideagogue

    Did you just combine the words pedagogue and ideologue? Because I can't find it in any dictionary. Interestingly, both words seem to fit RMS.

    --
    "This calls for a very special blend of psychology and extreme violence" - Vyvyan "The Young Ones"
  6. Re:Loophole? by Castar · · Score: 2, Funny

    If you don't like it, go back to using Windows, because that's Good Software.

    Wow, Slashdot is different these days...

    --
    I yearn for you tragically. A. T. Tappman, Chaplain, U.S. Army.