03.09.08
Quick Mention: The GPLv3 Approaches “Snowball Effect”
Days ago we saw one of the largest Free software projects adopting the (L)GPLv3 (for a good reason in fact). The good folks at Palamida make a noteworthy observation in their latest report from Friday.
We have already seen that the GPL v3 has made its mark on project licenses, but we are now curious to see if it will continue to grow. If adoption continues at this rate, it make [may] start a snowball effect since it will become more convenient to license under GPL v3 for compatibility.
This sounds encouraging and it is also predictable. There is an increasing number of reasons to upgrade the licence. █
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.
SubSonica said,
March 9, 2008 at 6:59 am
I don’t know if you were aware and commented on this:
http://www.openoffice.org/licenses/newlicense2008.html
Now let’s see what happens with OpenOffice-Novell Edition (which has Microsoft formats ad default) and if they are able to distribute it also under (L)GPLv3, see what happens with that MSOOXML format…
“OpenOffice.org supports import and export of established Microsoft Office file formats, even taking advantage of geometrically compatible fonts to match document length. In addition, OpenOffice.org Novell Edition ensures compatibility between the Open Document Format (ODF) and Open XML, Microsoft’s new document format for Office 2007. Transparent document sharing makes OpenOffice.org the best choice for customers who are deploying Linux desktops in a mixed Linux/Windows environment.”
Either Novell is now virtually owned by Microsoft Corporation or thaks to the not quite brilliant idea of Novell’s execs of receiving 340millions of danegeld, MSFT will sue Novell -or worse, its customers (think of big ones such as PSA Peugeot-Citroen, one of the biggest European car manufacturers)- as soon as the term of the patent pact ends…
Moreover, Novell could also be subject to actions if they don’t re-distribute under the original GPLv3 licecnce the future versions of OpenOffice.org… else they will have to fork and mantain single-handedly a version of OOo that will become more and more incompatile with the original as development of the later progresses…
CoolGuy said,
March 9, 2008 at 10:24 am
No more coupons for novell.
They cannot use the OOXML with open office - plain and simple.
M$ has withdrawn the sweet kissing it was doing with novell.
Novell is open to a legal threat by m$ now. They are like a mouse who has finally walked into his own death trap - there is no escape. Guns are pointing at novell from both the FOSS and m$. Serves them right.
Most probably they will withdraw the OOXML support from open office. Thats the best they can do now. Or rather the only thing they can do.