This guest column by a representative of the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) discusses proposed provisions in a future version 3 of the GNU General Public License (GPLv3) that are intended to reduce open-source license proliferation, by making the GPL more flexible.

“The most obvious way to limit license proliferation is to write new licenses as rarely as possible,” writes Ciaran O'Riordan.

“So while updating the GPL, it's good to be thorough so that it doesn't have to be done too often. What any one license can do to lessen the problem is less obvious, and this is an area where GPLv3 is breaking new ground. In case the more controversial provisions of GPLv3 have overshadowed the provisions that tackle license proliferation, I've put together this summary as a discussion primer.”

Read O'Riordan's complete guest column here:

Be sure to read some of LinuxDevices.com's additional coverage of the proposed new version of the GPL in the “Related Stories” below.

 
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