06.08.07

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The Latest GPL Myths Get Busted

Posted in Free/Libre Software, FUD, GPL, Law, Novell at 10:33 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

Amid the relentless attacks on the GPL, often coordinated by Microsoft which suffers from it the most, many myths are being created. It is time to bust a few of them, or at least point to some new articles that do this, e.g. this one from Ed Burnette:

Myth 2: You can’t mix GPL software with other software.

False. According to experts in open source licenses this is possible, especially with the wording in the latest GPLv3 draft.

Some Word-formatted ‘whitepapers’ from microsoft.com help in perpetuating these GPL myths, but all one has to do is look at Red Hat’s stack, which happily accommodates Oracle on top. This whole misconception which says that “everything in contact with GPL must be GPL” is just plain and utter FUD.

Another attack vector implies and suggests that GPL is not enforceable. Matt Asay addressed point this using some legal literature yesterday.

The GPL is enforceable, but not for the reasons (or, rather, not through the means) generally held.

My comment in the cited blog item provides further references. The GPL is not as unattractive as biased media would like you to believe. Check whose advice you take and whether it’s financially motivated. In some people’s eyes, Novell remains a GPL foe and abuser.

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