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July 3, 2008 10:59 AM PDT

Identi.ca--open-source Twitter?

by Dave Rosenberg

Identi.ca launched Thursday and it's basically an open-source version of Twitter licensed under the AGPL.

AGPL is a great license for network applications, but one thing that puzzles me is that I couldn't figure out a way to get out of using the AGPL version--like if I wanted to create my own version I guess I just have to abide by the license terms and I can't buy my way out of it?

I tend to think of GPL licenses as a great tool for capitalist projects, but there doesn't seem to be a way to pay. Maybe I am just missing something.

Anybody?

Dave Rosenberg dishes up "Software, Interrupted" with nearly 15 years of technology and marketing experience that spans from Bell Labs to multiple start-up IPOs to open-source enterprise software companies. He is co-founder of MuleSource and currently serves as the general manager of Hardy Way. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. You can contact Dave via e-mail at softwareinterrupted@gmail.com.
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by jnthnlstr July 3, 2008 2:24 PM PDT
The licence holder, in this case, Controlez-Vous, Inc, can always issue the software to you under a different licence, say a commercial one.
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About Software, Interrupted

In "Software, Interrupted," Dave Rosenberg discusses disruption in the software market, as well as the products and services that keep business technology norms in perpetual flux.

With nearly 15 years of technology and marketing experience spanning from Bell Labs to multiple start-up IPOs, Dave co-founded open-source software company MuleSource and now serves as general manager of Hardy Way. He also happens to be a U.S. patent holder and a workaholic. Technology is his best friend and mortal enemy.

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