Reasons to upgrade your code to GPL version 3 from GPLv2

Richard M Stallman the person who gave us the GPL version 2 licence on which Linux kernel and scores of programs are based on has written a very informative piece citing the pertinent reasons that one should consider moving ones code from GPL version 2 to the GPL version 3 when it is finally released.

Some of the points he makes in the article are as follows :

• There is no problem in having GPLv3-covered and GPLv2-covered programs side by side in an operating system. For example if Bash and GCC move to GPLv3, while Linux remains under GPLv2, there is no conflict.
• GPLv3 will block tivoization which allows embedded consumer appliances to contain GPLed code which the end user is not allowed to change. But GPLv3 tolerates tivoization for products that are almost exclusively meant for businesses and organizations.
• GPLv3 doesn't forbid DRM (Digital Restrictions Management) but under GPLv3, the end user will have the power to remove the DRM if he so chooses to.
• GPLv3 comes down strongly on software patents. So it provides for explicit patent protection of the users from the program's contributors and redistributors. Which means a person or company using a GPLv3 program is never going to get sued because the program infringes on some software patents.
• Other features of GPLv3 include better internationalization, gentler termination, support for BitTorrent, and compatibility with the Apache license.
  

Ultimately GPLv3 licence even after it is finally released some time this year will be an ongoing process and might lead to GPLv4 if and when new threats to Freedom are encountered.

You can read the full article written by Richard.M.Stallman at the fsf.org website.

Red Hat CEO says he held talks with Microsoft ...

I came across this very interesting piece of news on Reuters which says Red Hat CEO had at one point of time held talks with Microsoft regarding patents (infringement?). When queried Matthew Szulik refused to answer the question as to whether Red Hat is now in talks with Microsoft.

It is surprising to note that after all the hoopla and bonhomie evident in most Linux based news sites regarding Linux's (aparent) immunity to patent infringement claims, it is true that there is an under current of apprehensiveness amoung most Linux heavy weights such as Red Hat and the likes as to what strong arm tactics Microsoft has lined up for the Linux distributors who do not play ball with it.

Here is a quote from the article ...

...
An update to that license, version 3, is about to be implemented. It will forbid companies from distributing Linux software if they enter into patent agreements like the ones that Microsoft signed with Novell.

The Free Software Foundation, which authored the General Public License and owns rights to much of the code at the heart of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, inserted that clause into the agreement in an effort to discourage other open-source software developers from signing patent deals with Microsoft.

The authors of that license (read FSF) have said they believe that such patent deals will help Microsoft back claims that its intellectual property is being violated by code in Linux and other open source software, eventually giving the company ammunition to seek billions of dollars in license fees from users of open-source software.

This is evidently the reason why FSF spearheaded by Richard M Stallman is too keen to release GPLv3 which has provisions to negate any foul play that the likes of Microsoft can bring about. And this is why in my opinion, Linux should also move to GPLv3 as soon as possible instead of sticking to just GPLv2. Not doing it would be suicidal...