GPLv3 and fragmentation

> The GPLv2 was a license that everyone, even the BSDs could begrudgingly agree on. The GPLv3, in a lot of people's world views, was a step too far; and I think you'll find, for a lot of people and companies, it's not the anti-"tivotization" clause that is the problem: it's the anti-patent-licensing clause.

> I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the GPLv3 was the FSF's gift to the BSDs. Today, they're approaching having a GPL-free base system. 10 years ago I don't think anyone expected that this would be the point we were at today.

Interesting theory, I'm looking forward to the next decade to see how this all ends up.

One thing you can't argue with is: whereas the GPLv2 is only a software license, the GPLv3 is a complete, "forced freedom" package. What about people and companies who only want a software licence?

Fortunately the FSF cannot remove the GPLv2, meaning it cannot remove people's and companies' freedom to use only the software licence. Unfortunately the fragmentation between GPLv2 and GPLv3 looks deadly for both.

I personally do not mind about tivoization. It still leaves me the freedom to buy from a competitor who copies all the GPLv2 code from TiVo. If there is no market for such a competitor because consumers all prefer tivoization (at least for the moment) then so be it. If consumers don't want software freedom then it should not be shoved down their throat.

I do mind silly software patents but again I don't like the idea of shoehorning a patent fix into a licence, these are different issues that should be treated independently.