FOSS License Proliferation Adding Complexity

E5Rebel writes "Business is embracing open source like never before, but the effective demise of SCO's claims against Linux doesn't mean an end to licensing problems, an analyst warns. The debate on Slashdot seems to focus on the GPL and its virtues, but there are 1,000-plus open source licenses (according to analyst Saugatuck), and businesses face having to manage multiple licenses within a single open source product. What can be done to minimize multiple-license pain for corporate open source adopters?"

Comments

You need to read the GPL again.

[twitter]

Why does everyone love the GPL? By forcing users of the code to obey...

One reason people love the GPL is that it has no use conditions, only distribution. The core ethic is that users are free to use the code for any purpose and to share the same with their neighbors.

BSD for me- it's basically public domain (the best solution IMO) but it strokes my ego by making sure my name is included in the code :)

The GPL will preserve your copyright notice too, unless you turn that copyright over to the FSF or other organization. Do you know anyone outside of Redmond that actually strips copyright notices from their source code?

Re:Just use the GPL

[twitter]

Actually, /. has quite a vocal crowd which is rabidly against the GPL, the FSF, GNU, etc. This tendency as increased over the years and it's easily noticable.

It's called Astroturf. No one in the free or open software worlds is forcing anyone to do anything. The "fights" seen are waged by Steve Barkto types and a few who fall for it. They also like to stink the place up with harassment. Genuine discusion runs along the lines of friendly advocacy. Organizations like TrollTech have done dual licensing of their own code for a long time without exploding, so really everyone gets along just fine. Putting all of your own work under the GPL and only using GPL'd work is no real restriction, because you can find all the code you need. You can get fancier if you want, no one but M$ cares.

The whole thread is FUD. Free and Open software licenses are simpler and have lower costs than any commercial license. Problems with licenses only happen where there are restrictions and commercial licenses will always have more of those and you will always have to renew them and keep records and every vendor has their own and so on and so forth. Free software is a breath of fresh air next to that.