Open Source News and Events from OpenLogic

The Free Software Foundation (FSF) has released version 3 of the GPL -- the first new version in 16 years. 75% of the world's open source software is licensed under the GPL, so most likely some of the software you use is licensed under the GPL. Is the software you use moving to GPLv3? How do you find out? And if you do find out that the software you are using is moving to GPLv3, what does that mean to you?

What You Should Know About GPLv3

Despite the controversy surrounding GPLv3, many people don't understand the core differences between versions 2 and 3. Some basic facts about GPLv3 include:

According to FSF's stated goals, the GPLv3 is intended to address globalization, anti-circumvention provisions of the DMCA, "anti-Tivoization" concerns, and software patent aggression.
Another goal of GPLv3 is to thwart deals similar to the Novell-Microsoft pact.
Software already obtained under GPLv2 does not convert to GPLv3. However, in certain cases, GPLv2 permits users to "convert" software licensed under GPLv2 to GPLv3. Projects themselves may also formally convert from GPLv2 to GPLv3.

For more detailed information on GPLv3, we invite you to listen to the recording of our webinar, "GPLv3, Not Without Me!" In this webinar Jason Haislmaier, a partner with the law firm of Holme Roberts & Owen LLP, provides an overview of the changes introduced in GPLv3 and discusses the new compliance challenges created by those changes for licensees of open source software under the GPL.

What GPLv3 Licensed Products Are You Using?

The OpenLogic Library provides hundreds of the most commonly used open source software packages. See a complete list of open source software packages in the OpenLogic Certified Library licensed under:

OpenLogic Discovery

You can also use our OpenLogic Discovery to take inventory of all of the Java-based open source software in your environment. OpenLogic Discovery is a free software tool that helps enterprises identify the open source software installed on Windows, Linux and Solaris workstations and servers. Once OpenLogic Discovery has identified what open source software you are using, our Inventory Analysis service will build a report about the licenses you are using. With the inventory reports produced by OpenLogic Discovery, enterprises can more effectively manage their use of open source software and remain compliant with internal policies, regulations and software license terms--including new versions of licenses like the GPLv3.

Open source software is identified by digital fingerprints. OpenLogic Discovery checks discovered fingerprints against a database of more than 5000 versions across 900 of the most commonly used open source packages. This database will grow to encompass additional packages.

Version 3 of the GPL Released

What You Should Know About GPLv3

What GPLv3 Licensed Products Are You Using?

OpenLogic Discovery

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