Sun Sticks With Solaris CDDL (For Now) - Digg - Sun Microsystems Next Linux Move - gigj.com

Currently OpenSolaris is licensed under Sun's Common Development and Distribution License (CDDL) license and Java is set to be licensed under GPL v2. GPL v3 , which is currently still under development adds new terms for digital rights management (DRM) and patents that could have wide ranging effects on licensees.

Digg - Sun Microsystems Next Linux Move::
GLP and CDDL are incompatable. BrainInAJar, on 04/04/2008, -0/+2Theyre on Solaris. I probably stick with Ubuntu because I still have nightmares about Gentoo.
http://digg.com/linux_unix/Sun_Microsystems_Next_Linux_MoveHOME

Sun Microsystems' Chief Open Source Officer, Simon Phipps, explained that Sun is picking the best license on a case-by-case basis for its software and will continue to use the license that is most appropriate for the community involved.

That said, some things aren't going to change.

"I've got no intention of removing CDDL from OpenSolaris as it has been an ideal license for OpenSolaris," Phipps told internetnews.com. "The CDDL is doing a fine job with that community. The role of the license is to empower the innovator and the CDDL is demonstrably doing a good job of empowering OpenSolaris."

Phipps noted that under CDDL, OpenSolaris has grown its user base and contributions. At least five distributions are now available that are based on OpenSolaris, which is facilitated by the CDDL.

OSNews > Thread > RE[5]: This Sounds Nice by Arun::
And what does the CDDL say (as with all licenses)? Copyright overrides the essential for Sun. Well leave the part of that scenario for now which makes the
http://www.nmcx.com/thread?94964HOME

Just because the CDDL is working doesn't necessarily mean that Phipps won't consider adding another license to OpenSolaris. He commented that if the community wants another license than he would consider it. In fact, Phipps noted that he is just starting to see a debate in the OpenSolaris community on whether to add GPL v3.

freshmeat.net: Releases announced Sunday, July 18th 1999::
Sun, May 18th The indicators now change in conjunction with the brighten and dim buttons. Pocky Japanese Dessert Sticks © Copyright 2007 SourceForge,
http://freshmeat.net/news/1999/07/18/932335990.htmlHOME

Currently Sun uses the GPL v2 license in some of its software applications, though Sun isn't automatically going to migrate to v3 when it comes out.

Under the terms of the GPL v2, licensees "have the option of following the terms and conditions either of that version or of any later version published by the Free Software Foundation."

However, if "the program does not specify a version number of this license, you may choose any version ever published by the Free Software Foundation." Some applications, notably the Linux kernel and MySQL have included the language "GPLv2 only," as opposed to "GPLv2 or later," implying that an automatic changeover will not occur.

"I look at the 'or any latter version clause' and think it's a really strange thing for any responsible enterprise to use in its licensing," Phipps said. "That's carte blanche to a successive body to act in a way that is against your interests."

The fact that Sun is not using the "or any later version clause" does not imply any sort of criticism or lack of confidence in the GPL v3 process. Rather, it's a matter of responsibility, according to Phipps.

Phipps argued that with Java, for example, there are five million developers that rely on Java for their livelihood. "It would be absolutely irresponsible of me to license Java in a way that would endanger the livelihood of the developers working on it," Phipps said.

Sun has been very active in the GPL v3 process since the beginning. Phipps noted that he has every confidence that GPL v3 will be a license that will be usable in some areas of Sun's software business.

In the case of both OpenSolaris and Java, the respective communities will debate on whether or not GPL v3 is right for them, though, in the final analysis, the decision to actually use GPL v3 is up to Sun.

"Ultimately in each of those cases, Sun is the holder and it is Sun that has to take the action," Phipps said. "So ultimately the decision is mine."

"I'm not going to pick a license that is still not published," Phipps said. "Licenses give freedom to developers and I need to know that the license chosen gives the developers that I'm serving and protecting the freedoms that they desire."

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