GPL does seem to work though for some. I think you need to look at what you are trying to accomplish and think hard about the best license to do that. <snip>
Another real life example of where GPL is neat.
Consider all of the lost IP due to acquisition. For instance, I worked for a company that developed a portable Cobol compiler. It basically translated to C and compiled using your native C compiler. We ported the compiler to over 20 different *ix variants. This was in the mid-late 1980's. It was part of a much bigger engine that allowed you to run CICS directly on *ix.
The technology was acquired by a company who was not interested in the compiler at all. We pleaded with them to GPL the software... but they wanted it to use as a potential bargaining chip (in future acquisitions, etc.). However, the dust has collected, the product is forgotten and even today, there are many, many people who who benefit from the software.
Shame.
Companies need to think about their IP in light of potential future acquisitions. In my example, the company lost a golden opportunity to gain technical mindshare with a lot of developers (many of whom buy products from the company), but instead it was total loss.
Here's a what-if scenario: What if Microsoft acquires EMC? Perhaps they want to foster a storage arm of Microsoft (they've done stranger things). We all know that EMC owns VMware... so what do you suppose happens to VMware in the process? Another good piece of technology bites the dust!
