The Free Software Foundation has released the fourth draft of the GNU General Public License version 3.
Changes in this draft include:
- GPL 3 is now compatible with the Apache 2.0 License.
- License compatibility terms have been simplified, with the goal of making them easier to understand and administer.
- Some very minor technical changes that have the major effect of defanging Microsoft patent claims. (Microsoft's lawyers screwed up in the Novell deal.)
One thing I don't like in the new license is a separation of consumer from non-consumer software. That just seems like a needless distinction to me, and one that's sure to cause confusion in the community. I don't understand what it's intended to achieve.
Tonight, Tuesday, June 5, Extreme Tuesday New York meets at D.B.A in the East Village, 41 1st Ave, between 2nd and 3rd streets starting at 6:30. I'm going to try to attend.