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Will GPLv3 Drive Users from Linux to FreeBSD?

Posted by Zonk on from the sad-penguin dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Last week ZDNet put up an article asking a simple question: will GPL3 drive Linux users to FreeBSD? It's based on issues raised in the August FreeBSD Foundation Newsletter. That publication features a letter by the vice president of the FreeBSD Foundation, Justin Gibbs, arguing that the GPLv3 restricts the rights of commercial users of open source software, and is just the FSF's first step in changing the GPL in ways that authors of GPL software may not have intended. He suggests that commercial users should seriously consider BSD-licensed software as an alternative if they want to be able to safely ship products in the future. This is especially in light of requirements from the FCC that software running on devices (such as software-defined radios) be end-user replaceable. Gibbs states that the FreeBSD Foundation will provide an alternative to GPLv3'd software, especially in light of Stallman's statement that further GPL revisions are due in the near future. Is this likely to cause discontent among Linux users, or will they mostly ignore it?"

6 of 374 comments (clear)

  1. As a Linux user . . . by div_2n · · Score: 4, Funny

    No. That was easy. Next troll post please dear editors.

  2. so to sumarize.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Vice president of FreeBSD says FreeBSD is superior?

    well i would never have guessed he thought that way

  3. no. by zsouthboy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Will douchebags everywhere create apparent conflicts where there aren't any?

  4. Excuse me? by mdm-adph · · Score: 3, Funny

    I just now got Ubuntu working fine with my wireless card. I'll be damned if I'm moving to another bloody OS after all that. :P

    --
    It is by my will alone my thoughts acquire motion; it is by the juice of the coffee bean that the thoughts acquire speed
  5. Re:GPLv3 does hurt, however... by hawk · · Score: 2, Funny

    >"GPLv3 allows RMS to rape your puppies")?

    *whew*

    Fortunately, I only have kittens . . .

    hawk

  6. Re:This could be a good thing. by Slashcrap · · Score: 3, Funny

    so if someone wanted to start digging into BSD, which one would you recommend?

    Well, you've already been told how friendly and non-elitist all the BSDs are, so it won't matter that much. However, I think you'll find that OpenBSD is the best of the lot.

    Simply send an e-mail to the development list asking where you can download the install CD and for some help installing it (the OpenBSD developers are so friendly and willing to help newbies that they don't bother writing any documentation). Make sure you CC: Theo on the e-mail, as he likes to keep track of new users and personally welcome them.