Open Warfare in Open Source

A shining example of just how misunderstood open source really is: once again, open source does not mean free - it means the source code is open for all to view and alter. The piece below has confused open source with free software.

Say the letters G, P, and L in that order around most folks and you’re likely to be met with a blank stare. But try dropping them around the open-source crowd, especially in proximity to San Francisco this mid-August, and you’ll get a very different response: everything from fist-pumping to hand-wringing.

The letters stand for General Public License, a document originally written more than 15 years ago intended to govern the use of software that’s freely available online for use and development by coders. In essence, the GPL says, if any company or individual takes GPL-protected software and adds to it, those additions must also be freely available. That’s in contrast with software whose code is held close by companies, often jealously guarded by patents…. Source: Business Week