Why GPL-licensed code is dangerous for businesses to use

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Why would I? It's the general consensus among lawyers, the FSF, and virtually everyone else who understands the industry.

Cite.

Sorry, Kuci, but it's true. That's why nobody has ever tested it in court.

Show me an example of a violation where opening the source was more damaging than the potential monetary damages and the defendant had sufficient resources to actually put up a defense, and they open-sourced their code rather than fight for monetary damages instead.

Didn't he open the thread with one?

[Koyaanisqatsi]

3) The GPL damages the reputation of OSS in the for-profit closed source community in general. It's completely reasonable to avoid using even BSD licensed code/software because the IP control of open source stuff is going to be inferior to that of the for-profit closed source stuff. What if somebody used a few lines of GPL code in the stuff you thought was BSD (and therefore safe to use)? Also, if this happens with stuff I bought from MS et al then I have their balance sheet in between me and the damages I will suffer as a result, which is not the case with most OSS.

If they're avoiding BSD code because of the GPL then they're just being stupid and short-sighted. Even MS doesn't do that.

4) Some OSS apostles will claim that 3 doesn't matter, because they're closed source ****ers, so **** em. But they fail to recognize that if the closed-source, PAYING community recognizes the value of community-generated OSS then it can be a motivation for programmers to build OSS apps in their spare time (to add to their resume).

Egoboo and credit networks work better in GPL-land than closed source or even BSD in many cases because it forces more exposure downstream. There's no reason to say that 4) is any less of a benefit under the GPL than any other license.

[KrazyHorse]

I am too drunk to respond to this thread currently.

Just thought I should update you with that.

[Jon Miller]

See, I was wiser and stopped on 2/3 a pitcher + 1 manhattan and 1 gin and tonic.

JM
(Of course, if I wasn't planning to go to church tomorrow and wanting to not overindulge because I Want to lose weight, I might have had more.)

[KrazyHorse]

I'm not super drunk. Just 1 bottle of wine and 1 sixer.

[Jon Miller]

What beer? I did blue moon.

I like it, and a lot of places have it on tap.

JM
(Pretty sure I would be very drunk on that much alcohol. I am a cheap date now.)

[notyoueither]

Is a fly on your wall asking you questions, Jon?

[Jon Miller]

No, but this thread doesn't have [serious] on it.

JM
(Am I wrong that a sixer means six beers?)

[notyoueither]

I was wondering who enquired as to brand of beer.

Myself, it's Bud. Go ahead. Mock and laugh. You shouldn't have asked if you didn't want an honest answer.

[Jon Miller]

Terrible stuff, the last time I drank it was like a year ago playing beer pong. I ended up not taking my last drink and going to find some wine or vodka instead.

JM
(Yeah, I am thinking about splitting this... )

[notyoueither]

We don't get the same stuff you do. It is brewed under license and is essentially a label.

I like it because I can sip it a long time without serious effect. I have to drink a ****load before there are any effects the next day.

[Jon Miller]

I use to not drink beer at all, but have started drinking some (like Blue Moon), so that I can drink for longer with staying in the buzzed stage.

My goal is to never get really drunk again.

JM
(Will probably be broken occasionally)

[notyoueither]

Sorry. Eb is engaged in an epic battle with a hair brush. I got distracted.

Lager or other lighter beers are ideal for consumption over an evening without getting totally rocked. That's why I prefer them.

[KrazyHorse]

This isn't true.

As an example, there are a number of companies whose business models involve dual-licensing their code under the GPL and a proprietary license that allows closed source redistribution, and charging for that other license.

And in this specific case I would expect the court to assess monetary damages.

[self biased]

kuci's argument is that guns don't kill people, people kill people.