Comments on: Free Software Foundation releases GPL 3

The new license adjusts to software industry changes but carries several new provisions.

[alexgieg]

Patent Granting

FTA: "The new license carries several new provisions, though: (...) an explicit patent grant"

This isn't a new provision of GPL v3. It was already present in GPL v2, look:

"7. (. . .) if a patent license would not permit royalty-free redistribution of the Program by all those who receive copies directly or indirectly through you, then the only way you could satisfy both it and this License would be to refrain entirely from distribution of the Program."

What the new GPL does is only to explain in MUCH more details, and in a lot of legalese, this exact same patent granting mechanism. No matter how longer the new text is, its meaning hasn't changed at all.

[Commander_Spock]

>>>"free- (as in free beer and the fresh air...

... that we breathe) and open-source programming"<<<... Who pays for the design, development and deployment of "free software"? Just how do the bills get paid for the food, housing, clothing, gas, entertainment, vacations.... Come and work for/with us for free!

[`WarpKat]

That's easy.

Most open source programmers, you'll find, have started projects they've felt would help them in their field of work or current job while others have done it for the sake of doing it and have jobs totally unrelated to what they do in their own time.

It's a bit unfair to ask "how do you pay the bills." It's really none of your business, to say the least.

As a developer of in-house applications using open source, I can honestly say that I appreciate the generosity of all open source programmers (and yes, even the pesky bad attitude ones) because without their expertise in development, I wouldn't be able to do my job.

I'm fairly sure that they all have jobs that pay adequately and if they don't, I'm more than confident that they will have no problem in obtaining one given their level of skill.

Then again, you're a proven idiot.

[WJeansonne]

Just How Dumb Are you to use Linux?

What REAL businessman would slavishly develop a new business process or patent and then give it away. A fool that's who. I just have to laugh at it all. It's a truly ludicrous policy. I will never understand socialists--never!!

[Commander_Spock]

How about....

... some of those like "WarpKat" who feel that anyone who doesn't see things their way (and dare to be different) are idiots for commanding/demanding a fair compensation for their time and effort. Anyway, is it not written/to be found in Marxist Socialist theory that -- to each according to his ability; so then, are these present day dudes' policies worse that those earlier socialist ones or what! They want people to work for free and if they demand compensation for their next big thing then that is very idiotic. Wow!

[baisa]

GPL/Open Source is not "socialist"

Using and sharing Open Source software is not socialist -- it is simply another way that free people, under the protection of property rights, can cooperate and exchange values to their benefit. I happen to think it is a very benevolent model -- people who contribute nothing are still able to benefit, and those who contribute do not begrudge those who don't.

[Shankland]

reporter responds: giving patents away

Among some of the highly capitalistic companies that in one way or another have given their patents away to open-source projects are IBM, Nokia, Sun Microsystems, Oracle, Phillips and Sony. So evidently there's a little bit more to the equation that just "socialism."

[qwerty75]

Irony

One of the most stupid posters, who happens to be a MS paid shill is calling other people stupid and totally mischaracterizing the GPL.

What a shock.

[WJeansonne]

Oh, And Now I Know Why My Tivo Always Crashed!

It used the Linux operating system! I eventually just junked the damn thing and set up a Windows Media PC. It has worked liked a champ ever since.

[nachurboy]

Huh?

What does the underlying OS have to do with a custom software crashing? I highly doubt the OS crashed, since Linux doesn't work like that, unlike Windows. If the code was written for Windows and still crashed, would you blame Windows too?

BTW. I'm no Linux fanboy. I use and create software for Windows. But to blame an OS for an application that is unstable (assuming it is unstable) is silly. My Media Center 2005 box has had many quirks as well. I don't blame Windows XP for that problem.

[fc11]

Software for free and charge for service

IBM is a service company. Get all your software for free and pay more for service. Either way people have money and they can pay those companies.

Developement cost is lower since volunteers write the software. Those volunteers get satisfaction since they have the feel that they created something.

The TiVo porvision just creates a little more incompatibilty in the open source software, so people need more consultant to work it out.

Media companies also earns money since there is a good vs evil melodrama to cover.

Bottom line: This is actually a great and profitable business model, and it also give people good entertainment in writing software. This is a win-win situation.

[qwerty75]

Not totally accurate

You might be surprised at the large number of people that get paid to write GPL code. IBM hires a lot of programmers to write open source code. So does Novell, Google, Sun, Red Hat, etc.

Many people make very good livings writing open source code.

The stereotype of people hacking code for GPL projects after hours is true, but not nearly as prevalent as it is today.

[WJeansonne]

The GPL is a Socialist Policy for a Socialist Movement

period.

[Had_to_be_said]

And, Closed-Source, Illegal-monopolies are a Fascist Policy...

...Period.

This has been proven, legally, socially, and historically... unlike your asininely-childish assertions about the "GPL", and "Open-Source".

But please, do explain exactly how, preventing consumers from being precluded from access to the inner-workings of the devices they buy... or, developers being prevented from -stealing- the work of others equates to "Socialism".

"Open Source" sounds EXACTLY like TRUE "Capitalism", to me.

"Open Source", means exactly that... you cant simply weld-the-hood SHUT (to the decided disadvantage of all consumers, and an entire -capitalistic- industry).

And, the GPL simply states that you, as a business-interest, cannot just abscond with "Intellectual Properties", created by others, for your own exclusive gain. The new provisions of the GPL are simply an attempt to detail, at a higher-resolution, the limits and expectations which are specifically-designed to protect that aim.

Making money is great. And, Capitalism is an effective means to achieve that end. But, Capitalism does not mean unbridled-greed, or absolute-control by a powerful-few (especially, when those "few" have, repeatedly, proven themselves to be wholly-corrupt, incompetent, and illegally-manipulative).

Heres a little tip... Neither Socialism, NOR Fascism actually works. The result is, inevitably, the same tragic-end for the vast majority of citizens. Our Founding-Fathers figured that out. And, they tried to create a balance between the two extremes. Unfortunately, the forces of greed, and lust for power, never do abate, or rest.

And then, there are always those that mindlessly defend any status-quo, no matter how flawed or destructive. So, I really wasnt expecting an intelligent perspective, or any actual support of TRUE "Capitalism", from you...

I guess Ill just go back to >making-money< by providing Linux-integration, and support, to those businesses that are completely sick-and-tired of the overwhelming problems inherent in the "Closed Source" marketplace.

[ralfthedog]

WJeansonne, You are a Communist!

This is a free society. I have the right to place restrictions on the way you reuse my code. If I write a word processor, I have the right to let you use the code, or not (It is my code!).

I can give you the right to let other people use the code, or not. If I let you give the code to others, I can require you to put the same restrictions on them as I have put on you.

If you are using other peoples property, you must follow the rules they give you. If you don't like this, you can write your code from scratch or move to China.