04.05.07
Consensus on GPLv3 No Longer a Distant Dream
You may be pleased to hear that GPLv3 is gradually gaining acceptance. It is facing relatively minor (~16%) opposition, according to this recent study.
A survey of open-source programming experts that start-up OpenLogic pays to resolve software troubles has revealed some favorable feelings about the new third draft of the General Public License (GPL).
Of the 45 people who responded, 50 percent said they believed GPL 3 is good for the open-source programming movement. That’s not a majority by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s three times the 16 percent who said they believed GPL 3 wasn’t good for open source. And 30 percent said they weren’t sure.
There is some decent coverage of the GPLv3 and its importance in the following news article.
Like the software it governs, there is still time to make changes to the GPL.
However radical he might seem, Mr. Stallman has proven you don’t have to look like a CEO to have a major impact on the way this business works. If he can change the system, we all can, and we all should.
Finally, full transcripts of Richard Stallman’s talk in Brussels are available online.
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.