sourceforce and asp licensing (Score 5)

The single biggest stumbling block for a full Sourceforge code release is licensing. The team would like to use the GPL, but the GPL falls short in an ASP environment, which is effectively what Sourceforge is. Here's why:

The GPL covers code distribution. A proprietary third party could, however, take the code, make improvements to the code, and put up a competing site using the improvements. Nothing in the GPL would compel them to release the improvements.

Do you know how to extend a GPL style license to the web? I don't. I know that several key people from the community are working on the issue, as well as several high paid lawyers.

Check Slashdot's interview with Stallman, and look at Bruce Perens' questions for him. You'll see that Stallman acknowledges that (a) the GPL doesn't address this issue and (b) the issue needs to be addressed.

Everyone at Sourceforge is doing the best they can to work things out, but folks, we're in ucharted territory, so bear with us.

Mark Stone
Media Publisher
VA Linux Systems
[e-mail]