Tags: code, gpl

News (90)

New Linux licence takes aim at DRM and Hollywood

New licensing terms for Linux and other open-source products take a "highly aggressive" stance against the digital rights management software that's widely favoured in the entertainment industry, said Eben Moglen, general counsel for the Free Software Foundation. Read more »

Sun picks GPL for Java code

After years of requests and debates, Sun is set to release Java source code under a Linux-friendly licence. Read more »

GPL 3 may tackle Web loophole

Web companies may be forced to publish the source code of any GPL-licensed software that they are using for commercial services. Read more »

Flash for the people, by the people

Open-source community to roll its own Flash player under the GPL. Read more »

Torvalds says DRM isn't necessarily bad

Provisions against digital rights management in a draft update to the GPL could undermine computer security, Linus Torvalds said this week in e-mails reflecting the Linux leader's pragmatic philosophy. Read more »

Skype caves in to GPL requirements

Skype has abandoned its efforts to avoid complying with an open-source licence that requires it to provide source code with Linux-based VoIP phones. Read more »

Schwartz swipes at the GPL

The GPL imposes a 'predatory obligation to disgorge IP back to the wealthiest nation in the world' on its users, according to Sun's president. Read more »

GPL likely to regain Apache compatibility

In a significant change of course, the Free Software Foundation is working to make the upcoming version 3 of the General Public License (GPL) compatible with an alternative, the Apache License. Read more »

Affero: A new GPL for SaaS

The Affero General Public License, a new variation of the seminal General Public License (GPL) specifically for one situation the regular GPL doesn't address, is now final. Read more »

Companies accused of violating the GPL

Thirteen companies, including Motorola and Acer, have been handed letters claiming they have failed to comply with the GNU General Public License Read more »

Features (48)

It's a Matrix moment for Linux

We are finding out that the brains of Linux programmers have been floating in tanks, feeding the parasitic robots (lawyers) who are calling the shots at financially strapped SCO. Now it's time to harvest those brains. Read more »

Google: Open source lets us control our destiny

Chris DiBona, Google's open source program manager, gave the opening keynote at the Open Source Developer's Conference. Builder AU caught up with him to discuss why Google uses open source, how the company open sources its software and what it is like to be a comic book character. Read more »

Surviving in the wild with open source Java

Nick Gibson shows what the Classpath exception means you don't have to worry. Read more »

Sprucing up open source's GPL foundation

Modernisation is coming to the General Public License, a legal framework that supports a large part of the free and open-source software movements and that has received sharp criticism from Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. Read more »

In defence of freedom

The principles are the same, but technology has moved on significantly in the 15 years since the release of GPL 2. Read more »

Building on top of osCommerce

By choosing to modify an existing open source e-retailing system, Damian Hickey was able to accelerate the development process, but also took on board a score of additional problems. Read more »

The open-source techie who means business

Alan Cox, one of the most respected figures in the open-source community, talks about GPL 3, software patents, the kernel development process and Linux on the desktop. Read more »

Tech tips: Administering Windows from Linux

Terminal Services provides handy remote administration capabilities--and now, it's not limited to Windows. See how rdesktop allows Linux systems to connect to Terminal Services and administer Windows systems. Read more »

What if SCO wins?

Open source companies are growing up and becoming the profit-oriented entities that companies at their core truly are. But this can be like watching Dr. Jeckyl turn into Mr. Hyde. Read more »

Case against open source

Australian Windows developer Andrew Parsons is sick of the open source movement decrying his involvement in commercial applications. He outlines his pro-Windows argument here. Read more »

Blog (5)

GPL 3 -- a bridge too far?

Staff [blogs:syslog] -- Now it's time to create a new phrase: "free as in free software," meaning the freedom to make adversaries of potential partners -- the kind of freedom one has when one's work must be carefully excluded from other people's projects. Read more »

Busybox settles a second GPL suit

Staff [blogs:syslog] -- The folks behind Busybox have settled a second lawsuit that argued a company violated the widely used free and open-source license. Read more »

Samba gets an inside look at Microsoft documentation

Staff [blogs:syslog] -- A complicated third-party arrangement means that the open-source Samba project will be able to make use of proprietary documents describing Microsoft file-sharing software. Read more »

Who really owns your open source code?

Chris Duckett [blogs:betaliving] -- If you are a developer committed to open source and you wish for your contributions to always remain open, do not reassign copyright to an external party Read more »

Wireless theft -- what's the harm?

Staff [blogs:syslog] -- Hand up if you have logged in to use some poor schmuck's unprotected wireless connection to overcome a bandwidth drought? Read more »

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