> Tim Cook wrote:
>
> Actually, I used to be a big proponent of the GPL. The recent
> rantings by RMS on the differences between free & open source
> software. The remarks about how pure the GPL is and how _not_ the
> other open source licenses. I just see him as a distraction to
> the cause of the community. His _religion_ is pure and we all
> know it. But his rants are as intolerant as the biggest bigot
> anywhere.
>
> As I have said on this list and was on the site until just a few
> days ago (due to upcoming remodeling). I expect to make a living
> from open source software. I believe that there is room for alot
> of people in this business called 'supporting FreePM'. We can
> _both_ provide a service to the medical community AND make a
> living without robbing anyone. That is why the ", Inc." now
> appears in the signature below. I hope many of you join us. The
> last thing I want to for someone (especially me) to have to spend
> time arguing with a religious fanatic (or his attorney) about a
> license issue. He has lost his grip on the child he gave birth
> to. Partly his own doing. He needs to move on, but we all know
> that won't happen.
>
RMS's attitude hasn't changed over the years. It certainly hasn't dulled a bit
from when I met him several years ago. However, I hope you don't take the
attitude that others have and toss out the baby (GPL) with the bathwater (RMS).
Linus Torvolds recently conducted an interview with The Register
(http://www.theregister.co.uk/). In it he addressed the very issue about RMS
(and Eric Raymond as well). Note, Linus employed the GPL knowing full well what
RMS was like (and still is). However, Linus was wise enough to separate the man
(RMS) from the license (GPL). Linus chose the GPL over the BSD license for the
good of the Linux kernel project. There is much to like about the GPL and,
frankly, I would prefer it for the purpose at hand, namely FreePM. It is easier
to fork something under the BSD license (look at Apple's Darwin/OS X, which is
based on FreeBSD), than it is under the GPL. Forking is an issue that comes up
repeatedly with corporate types (who remember the old Unix days). GPL is
typically seen as less fork-tolerant and some of its provisions are key to us
bringing in smaller players and forming a group that can compete effectively
with larger organizations.
Tim is not the only one who is looking at FreePM from a corporate standpoint. I
am evaluating FreePM for a venture capital group (and spending my free time at
it as well) in the hope that it will come through. One of the selling points
that I want to present to corporate management is that FreePM will be GPL rather
than use the BSD license. Venture capitalists and corporate suits are beginning
to "get it" about open source licenses. The choice of which license can have
some rather substantial effects on later acceptance by the medical industry.
They know about Apple and why they chose FreeBSD instead of Linux. They see the
flap that Apple has caused in the open source community about not giving
anything back (and having limited development tools in the OS X beta). Many of
them see the GPL as the key to keeping a major project (such as Linux) out in
the open and outside of a single proprietatry vendor who wants only their
"standard" to prevail (which has been the biggest problem in the U.S. healthcare
industry).
Tim has asked me to look at both the GPL and the BSD license. I've agreed to do
so. However, as this seems to be brewing into an important topic, I intend to
devote a bit of time to it and actually publish a "Memorandum of Law" on the
topic and provide some formal (legal) advice. Hopefully, the group can review
the work and we can all debate the merits of each license. I propose that we
make the hypertext version of the memorandum available on the sourceforge.net
site (in the FreePM section) and then solicit comments.
Incidentally, from an acedemic standpoint, I don't have an axe to grind with
either license. Both serve legitimate purposes. Despite what I said above
about my evaluation of FreePM, I want this license issue to be settled as
quickly as possible for the simple fact that if it goes against what I consider
best for my VC group, I will have more time to move on. I trust that you all
will decide what is best for FreePM.
Ron
./.
_______________________________________________
Freepm-discuss mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://lists.sourceforge.net/mailman/listinfo/freepm-discuss
