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What the GPL people are missing
The main problem is that GPL code is what Linux is based on. Today to do business one often needs to develop on window and Linux. This is not that big of an issue for an experience developer. The issue is that the Code on Linux is based on GPL, or even LGPL.

Big business does not want there code out on the net. It has trade secrets and IP that allows them to have a competitive advantage with there competition. For one to develop on Linux means that you MAY HAVE TO Open source your code. There are some serious ambiguous part of what GPL means and the law. This means that many companies could have possible legal action over them based on rumors, and not fact. These companies don?t want to take the risk.

It is also very unclear at the development layer what is safe and what is not. There are parts of the GPL, that say that just by including to much header information, you may have to GPL your code. When the whole OS in linux is GPL, how can one write to linux without having your code GPL?ed??

I believe what people want is to make software and to be able to use it on linux without fear that your competitor ( or some random guy who wrote this one function used that was under a BSD, then it was copied under GPL) could throw you in court, and possibly force you to open all you source code, IP and trade secrets. The fact is that this can happen? it just a matter of money and partial truths.

I like teh idea of open source... I jsut wish there was a freesource lic. not a GPL.
Posted by: phantom_z   Posted on: 03/03/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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License Overhaul  htotten | 02/14/05
Mono vs Java  Roger Ramjet | 02/14/05
The main reason  htotten | 02/14/05
Huh?  doe_z | 02/14/05
I thought my computer got a critical virus...  The King's Servant | 02/14/05
GPL is a joke.  pa2004 | 02/14/05
You are a total joke  hipparchus2000 | 02/14/05
If it's not broke  Chad_z | 02/14/05
Linux license overhaul--don't hold your breath  Loverock Davidson | 02/14/05
Forced? how so?  theding0 | 02/14/05
Suppose that depends on your level of greed...  shawkins | 02/14/05
Giving away someone else's money.  Anton Philidor | 02/14/05
Got that right  rapson | 02/14/05
Where it counts...  Anton Philidor | 02/14/05
Exactly...  shawkins | 02/14/05
No better than Microsoft, and maybe worse...  Anton Philidor | 02/14/05
You just have to make sure...  Michael Kelly | 02/14/05
I think you are confused  AmusedAtItAll | 02/14/05
Got that right  AmusedAtItAll | 02/14/05
Giving or Greed?  Update victim | 02/14/05
Actually  Linux User 147560 | 02/14/05
f you can't make $$$ off of it it's not worth your time  htotten | 02/14/05
But you can get paid for your work you silly little man wink  The King's Servant | 02/14/05
That is what is good about choices  AmusedAtItAll | 02/14/05
Happens every day Anton....  shawkins | 02/14/05
Also  voska | 02/14/05
I don't enjoy arguing with idealism.  Anton Philidor | 02/14/05
I know this one company that gives away free stuff  The King's Servant | 02/14/05
Have you listened to yourself today?  The King's Servant | 02/14/05
Of course there are reasons to produce free software.  Anton Philidor | 02/14/05
No. Not okay.  The King's Servant | 02/14/05
On the premises.  Anton Philidor | 02/14/05
Anton, try and follow a logical progression.  The King's Servant | 02/14/05
Interesting  NonZealot | 02/14/05
Why do people put words in my mouth, nonZealot?  The King's Servant | 02/14/05
Garbage in - garbage out  AmusedAtItAll | 02/14/05
Your assumptions border on ridiculous  AmusedAtItAll | 02/14/05
Put up or shut up.  seosamh_z | 02/14/05
I have "Put Up" thus won't "shut up"  shawkins | 02/14/05
Don't Like the license? Don't use it!  rpmyers1 | 02/14/05
Easier said than done.  htotten | 02/14/05
Oracle  rpmyers1 | 02/14/05
Giving away code  Letophoro | 02/14/05
Another GPL mythmonger on the loose  AmusedAtItAll | 02/14/05
To avoid being GPL'ed  Anton Philidor | 02/14/05
You're not supposed to  rapson | 02/14/05
Independent software developement is dying field  voska | 02/14/05
Not dead yet....  htotten | 02/14/05
Suppose you license the WinCE code  rpmyers1 | 02/14/05
You are only required to give them  htotten | 02/14/05
code which will contain your IP  rpmyers1 | 02/14/05
It is no different with the GNU GPL  The King's Servant | 02/14/05
The difference is  AmusedAtItAll | 02/14/05
It's not like it's that hard to avoid becoming "contaminated"  Michael Kelly | 02/14/05
DO you even know what they mean by, 'how close'?  The King's Servant | 02/14/05
Sounds like the rewriting of the GPL is unnecessary...  Anton Philidor | 02/14/05
English Lit 101: Ask yourself, "what is the purpose of the story."  The King's Servant | 02/14/05
Correction... just over 20%  The King's Servant | 02/14/05
You look, but not see.  Anton Philidor | 02/14/05
Ie, yie, yie!  The King's Servant | 02/14/05
A license can not subvert the law.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/14/05
Not trying to subvert  Anton Philidor | 02/14/05
That's what I said...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/14/05
Yes, it was, wasn't it.  Anton Philidor | 02/14/05
Message has been deleted.  AmusedAtItAll | 02/14/05
Licensing does that quite regularly  voska | 02/14/05
Perhaps  Update victim | 02/14/05
And perhaps pigs will fly...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/14/05
I was under the impression...  Michael Kelly | 02/14/05
Not dead wrong, just slightly mistaken.  The King's Servant | 02/14/05
wait and see, no_ax  hipparchus2000 | 02/14/05
Sorry, you are wrong.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/14/05
Sorry, you are slightly off.  The King's Servant | 02/14/05
You need to do some more home work.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/15/05
Kill open source?  richdave | 02/14/05
Nope  Linux User 147560 | 02/14/05
RE: Nope  richdave | 02/14/05
But the GPL does allow incorporation into proprietary software.  The King's Servant | 02/14/05
"The snowballing success of Linux ..."  George Mitchell | 02/14/05
What the GPL people are missing  phantom_z | 03/03/05

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