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First Draft of GPL Version 3 Released

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the forward-progress dept.

njan writes "The first draft of version three of the GNU General Public License was released to the public this afternoon. Major improvements touted in version three include changes designed to mitigate the damage posed by new threats to free software such as software patents. One individual stated about the release: 'It is changes in law, not computer technology, that pose the principal challenges to the free software community. Chief among these changes has been the unwise and ill-considered application of patent law to software. Software patents threaten every free software project, just as they threaten proprietary software and custom software. Any program can be destroyed or crippled by a software patent belonging to someone who has no other connection to the program.'"

5 of 575 comments (clear)

  1. The slippery slope begins... by Otter · · Score: 1, Troll

    So "freedom for users" has now been redefined to "freedom for users, except for one group of users that we don't like". I'm curious to see who the second group is going to be...

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  2. Re:it's difficult to read. by nacturation · · Score: 1, Troll

    why is it so difficult to read?

    Because it's written by lawyers for lawyers, not for programmers. Gotta love the OpenBSD license. Excluding the warranty disclaimer and copyright notice, here's the entire text:

    "Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software for any
    purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
    copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies."

    I like my licenses without built-in ideologies.

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  3. Re:it's difficult to read. by winwar · · Score: 1, Troll

    "I like my licenses without built-in ideologies."

    Do you seriously think the OpenBSD license doesn't have a ideology? Of course it does. It is just one you accept.

    For instance, what is with this annoying requirement to give attribution? This idea that anyone can use it? That sounds like socialism! :)

    Every license has an ideology. There's a reason there are so many of them.....

  4. Re:I'll stick with the MIT license. by killjoe · · Score: 1, Troll

    Microsoft and apple thank you very much for your efforts. Please keep it up and for God's sake stay away from the GPL. It's too complicated and requires them to give back.

    --
    evil is as evil does
  5. Re:I'll stick with the MIT license. by killjoe · · Score: 1, Troll

    If GPL wasn't effective MS would not be trying so hard to kill it. They would not be funding the SCO lawsuit, they would not be spending millions of dollars with PR agencies and law firms.

    Don't kid yourself. MS is scared shitless of the GPL. If they weren't they'd be acting differently.

    As for the BSD I guess you said it best. The corporations cherry pick the best programs and adopt them to sell them.

    --
    evil is as evil does