4 ms·

"...and hope that you will not be the target of legal action." I think that's a hope that I, jacob and many others are not willing to sign up to.

by jnoller 17y ago

callahad 17y ago
I've found that most of the fear comes from the misconception that the GPL could force your code open against your wishes. In the US, that's simply not possible. Check out this article on Groklaw ("The GPL is a License, Not a Contract, Which is Why the Sky Isn't Falling") for more: http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20031214210634851 http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20031214210634851 I've found it helpful to clear up that misconception, point to past infractions / events, and try to humanize the free software community. In most cases, there isn't a litigious company lurking in the shadows, and a show of good faith will go a long way. It's also quite useful to direct attention to high profile products that are safely using and modifying GPL'd code, like the Kindle.
- jballanc 17y ago
  I've never thought the fear was that proprietary code would be forced to have its source opened. I was under the impression that the fear for large companies has more to do with injunctions on sale and/or distribution as a result of license violation. Try to tell Microsoft that they can't sell Windows for the next week and see what they think of that...
  - callahad 17y ago
    Both are very real concerns; the CTO of our division, representing a large chunk of a 50,000 person organization, was certainly very concerned about the chance that things would be forced open.
  - duncanj 17y ago
    Yet, oddly, they don't seem to fear the very real consequences of the BSA coming and shutting them down for an "audit".
grellas 17y ago
The business world abhors legal uncertainty. The problem is not just the case where a company does get hit with a lawsuit if it should violate the GPL as it might nebulously apply to myriad situations. It is the very possibility of such an event that will scare away those who might otherwise fund your company or who might otherwise acquire it. I know. I deal with funding rounds and M&A very frequently in real-world situations. Believe me, if the GPL pops up in due diligence, general panic ensues unless it involves only some incidental use that can be worked around or it involves a very clear-cut case of how the license applies. As an entrepreneur, you can lose and lose badly in such situations even where no lawsuit is ever filed.
michael_dorfman 17y ago
"Hope" is not a strategy. Full stop.

"...and hope that you will not be the target of legal action." I think that's a hope that I, jacob and many others are not willing to sign up to.

by jnoller 17y ago

"...and hope that you will not be the target of legal action." I think that's a hope that I, jacob and many others are not willing to sign up to.

callahad 17y ago

I've found that most of the fear comes from the misconception that the GPL could force your code open against your wishes. In the US, that's simply not possible. Check out this article on Groklaw ("The GPL is a License, Not a Contract, Which is Why the Sky Isn't Falling") for more: http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20031214210634851 http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20031214210634851 I've found it helpful to clear up that misconception, point to past infractions / events, and try to humanize the free software community. In most cases, there isn't a litigious company lurking in the shadows, and a show of good faith will go a long way. It's also quite useful to direct attention to high profile products that are safely using and modifying GPL'd code, like the Kindle.

jballanc 17y ago
I've never thought the fear was that proprietary code would be forced to have its source opened. I was under the impression that the fear for large companies has more to do with injunctions on sale and/or distribution as a result of license violation. Try to tell Microsoft that they can't sell Windows for the next week and see what they think of that...
- callahad 17y ago
  Both are very real concerns; the CTO of our division, representing a large chunk of a 50,000 person organization, was certainly very concerned about the chance that things would be forced open.
- duncanj 17y ago
  Yet, oddly, they don't seem to fear the very real consequences of the BSA coming and shutting them down for an "audit".

grellas 17y ago

The business world abhors legal uncertainty. The problem is not just the case where a company does get hit with a lawsuit if it should violate the GPL as it might nebulously apply to myriad situations. It is the very possibility of such an event that will scare away those who might otherwise fund your company or who might otherwise acquire it. I know. I deal with funding rounds and M&A very frequently in real-world situations. Believe me, if the GPL pops up in due diligence, general panic ensues unless it involves only some incidental use that can be worked around or it involves a very clear-cut case of how the license applies. As an entrepreneur, you can lose and lose badly in such situations even where no lawsuit is ever filed.

michael_dorfman 17y ago

"Hope" is not a strategy. Full stop.