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ARTICLE · 21 FEBRUARY 2006

The Long Walk to Freedom - Version 3!

Bristows LLP
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If you are one of the many businesses that make use of open source software such as, GNU/Linux or one of the 4,422 packages currently listed by the Free Software Foundation, then 2006 may be a significant year for you. You are currently licensed to use your ‘free software’ under the terms of the GNU General Public Licence Version 2. This means you are allowed to run, study, modify and redistribute software subject to certain conditions, the most important of which is that if you distribute your

United KingdomMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Mark Rasdale
Mark Rasdale

If you are one of the many businesses that make use of open source software such as, GNU/Linux or one of the 4,422 packages currently listed by the Free Software Foundation, then 2006 may be a significant year for you. You are currently licensed to use your ‘free software’ under the terms of the GNU General Public Licence Version 2. This means you are allowed to run, study, modify and redistribute software subject to certain conditions, the most important of which is that if you distribute your modifications to the GPL code, their source code must also be made available for use by all. The GPL Version 2 has been around since 1992. The Free Software Foundation thinks it is time for a change. The plan is to have GPL Version 3 in place by early 2007.

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