GPL recognizes human nature

Posted Jul 1, 2005 19:05 UTC (Fri) by Junior_Samples (guest, #26737)
Parent article: ESR: 'We Don't Need the GPL Anymore' (O'ReillyNet)

The GPL excels because it seems to coincide with what mathematical game theory would predict as the best strategy to insure an acceptable licensing outcome while minimizing risk. It is doubtful that SGI would have released the XFS under any other license than the GPL.

The GPL recognizes human nature. Less restrictive licenses depend on a Utopian world view.

However ESR might have a point with regard to mega-projects such as Linux. With smaller or fledgling projects it is a different story. Even fairly large projects such as Wine have suffered unfortunate forks allowed through lax non-GPL licensing. Another classic example of licensing failure is the SPICE circuit simulator whose non-GPL licensing has led to a myriad of incompatible component engineering models.

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