FSF Releases Fourth and Final Draft of GPLv3

An anonymous reader writes "The most notable changes found in this latest draft include making GPLv3 compatible with version 2.0 of the Apache license, ensuring that distributors who make discriminatory patent deals after March 28 may not convey software under GPLv3, adding terms to clarify how users can contract for private modification of free software or for a data center to run it for them, and replacing the previous reference to a U.S. consumer protection statute with explicit criteria for greater clarity outside the United States. The draft also does not prohibit Novell from distributing software under GPLv3 'because the patent protection they arranged with Microsoft last November can be turned against Microsoft to the community's benefit,' FSF executive director Peter Brown said."

Comments

A wake up call

[minus_273]

the GPL3 fiasco should serve as a wake up call to companies which are trying to shift to GPL software either for development or use. The fact is you can't make a business model based around the current GPL version because once you switch to GPL software you become the bitch of the FSF. What is to say the FSF will not add other restrictions on the software you use? It is entirely usage clause will be added that limits what you can do with GPL software. In addition when there is a licence change like this eveyone needs to get legal involvd again to make sure GPL software is still usable. The parts where GPL infects patent deals is really disturbing. As each day goes by it really does seem like MS might have a point about the GPL being a viral licence. In this case it has mutated to infect unrelated areas of business after entering the host.

This has got me seriously looking at BSD instead of GPL stuff. At least BSD will not change on you like this. We will probably shift to Macs at work. I see the release of GPL3 as the beginning of the end.