Randall Shimizu wrote:
IBM: No plans to contribute to OpenOffice.org
(http://news.com.com/2061-10795_3-6039161.html?tag=nl
):
Open Office
license(http://www.openoffice.org/licenses/lgpl_license.html
)
This really caught me by suprise Ed. IBM used some
Open Office code componentized it and now says that
they have not been able to find a good method to
re-contribute the modified code.
So is IBM saying that they are optiing out of the GNU
portion of the LPGL thus freeing them of the
obligation to redistriubte the Workplace OO
productivity editors....?? I don't think this is agood
way for IBM to endear themselves to the OSS coummunity Ed...
Well, if it is *L*GPL, IBM is not required to return changes.
I read the subtext as they ripped it apart so heavily that integrating a
patch change is going to be very difficult. The problem with making
major architectural changes is that you have to submit the results
continuously to ensure that the patches can mesh.
In addition, IBM has rearranged the code to be delivered by Web client.
That's actually a useful product for which they can probably charge
money. Until OpenOffice produces such a beast, IBM probably has little
incentive to return code.
However, IBM is shooting themselves in the foot. Having to maintain a
separate but compatible codebase which does not generate enough revenue
to support itself is always a bad choice.
-a
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