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Do Open Source Software Licenses Have a Purpose?

Posted by khess on · 5 comments
DaniWeb; By Ken Hess
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What do all these licenses do for you? That's the 64 license question. Today I'm pondering if the current open source model is still valid or if it's outdated. Do we need licensing for open source software? Do we need the GPL, LGPL, APL and all the other licenses that plague...er, grace us? If your software is free and open source, why bother with a license at all? The software writer owns the copyright so why put users or potential users through the paces of licensing? What exactly is to be gained by creating and enforcing a license for this kind of software?

Today I'm pondering if the current open source model is still valid or if it's outdated. Do we need licensing for open source software? Do we need the GPL, LGPL, APL and all the other licenses that plague...er, grace us? If your software is free and open source, why bother with a license at all? The software writer owns the copyright so why put users or potential users through the paces of licensing? What exactly is to be gained by creating and enforcing a license for this kind of software?

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Comments (5)

I was hoping...

this would cover the legal and logical reasons for FOSS licensing.

I was wrong.
> I was wrong.

Ken Hess = Matt Hartley. Expecting anything useful from either would be a major mistake.
Actually Matt Hartley has had a few decent articles lately. I can't say the same for Mr. Hess.

Before I waste time on writing one myself...

Does anyone have a greasemonkey script to hide all stories on LXer written by lazy uninformed authors such as the one who wrote this fine piece of nonsense?
Nonsense? You are being far too kind to the author.

If you can filter out all stories by Ken Hess you will be well on your way.

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