The GPL Version 3 Development and Publicity Project [LWN.net]

The GPL Version 3 Development and Publicity Project

Posted Sep 12, 2005 18:45 UTC (Mon) by stockerz (guest, #32415)
In reply to: The GPL Version 3 Development and Publicity Project by greve
Parent article: The GPL Version 3 Development and Publicity Project

I red the article and people reaction and i do not understand why people get so upset.
The stuff about internet taxation and DRM is total FUD; so let forget about it and concentrate about the GPL3.

"The idea is that if someone uses software patents against free software, that company or person loses the right to distribute that particular program and use it in their product, he added."

Where did you read that companies that have patents couldn't use opensource softwares anymore???????
This just says that a companies that uses opensource softwares would use the right to use them if they bring an opensource project to court for patent infrigement.
This sounds really honest to me.

If companies (and many do) use opensource softwares to increase their business, the minimum requirement would be not to arm the opensource community. This is just about a legitim need of honesty : we provide you with high quality software and efficient development process. At least, do not bring us to court. This is just a two ways cooperation.
But as someone already said it, this clause is already inserted into the GPL2 but not as clear as this.

I think this would be a really great way to avoid a patents raids over the opensource community as most of the companies that hold patents also use opensource softwares (IBM, SUN, Philips, NOKIA, Sony....). This would be much more efficient than the opensource patents portfolio. Opensource structure is not made to file patents. We could let this to our "protectors" : those who have huge patents portfolios and that use opensource softwares.

On the other hand, i think the GPL3 should go more on the BSD licence side when it come about letting companies to build commercial products. This would also be a good political moove as many right wings politicians are afraid of the 'free contagion' of FOSS

To sum it up, these two measures would be really good for the community :
- push big profit firms to adopt FOSS
- at the same time : build an automatic, free and efficient shield against patents raids.

High end technologies for the business and the people.
Sorry for my awfull english).

(Log in to post comments)