From info-gplv3 at gplv3.fsf.org  Wed Mar 28 10:14:50 2007
From: info-gplv3 at gplv3.fsf.org (GPLv3 Information)
Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:14:50 -0400
Subject: [Info-gplv3] Third discussion draft of GPLv3 released
Message-ID: <20070328141450.GQ10974@fencepost.gnu.org>

BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA---Wednesday, March 28, 2007---The Free
Software Foundation (FSF) today released the third discussion draft
for version 3 of the most widely used free software license, the GNU
General Public License (GNU GPL).  

Today's draft incorporates the feedback received from the general
public, official discussion committees, and two international
conferences held in India and Japan.  Many significant changes have been
made since the previous draft, released in July 2006.  In recognition of
this fact, the FSF now plans to publish one additional draft before the
final text of GPL version 3.

Changes in this draft include:

* First-time violators can have their license automatically restored if
  they remedy the problem within thirty days.

* License compatibility terms have been simplified, with the goal of
  making them easier to understand and administer.

* Manufacturers who include the software in consumer products must also
  provide installation information for the software along with the 
  source. This change provides more narrow focus for requirements that 
  were proposed in previous drafts.

* New patent requirements have been added to prevent distributors from
  colluding with patent holders to provide discriminatory protection 
  from patents.  

Richard Stallman, president of the FSF and principal author of the GNU
GPL, said, "The GPL was designed to ensure that all users of a program
receive the four essential freedoms which define free software. These
freedoms allow you to run the program as you see fit, study and adapt it
for your own purposes, redistribute copies to help your neighbor, and
release your improvements to the public. The recent patent agreement
between Microsoft and Novell aims to undermine these freedoms.  In this
draft we have worked hard to prevent such deals from making a mockery of
free software." 

Today's draft will be open for discussion for sixty days. The FSF will
solicit input in a wide array of public venues and make changes as
needed in response.  After this period, it will release a "last call"
draft, followed by another thirty days for discussion before the FSF's
board of directors approves the final text of GPL version 3.

More information about this draft is available at http://gplv3.fsf.org,
including the full text, detailed explanations of the latest changes,
and new plans for finalizing the license.  As with the previous drafts,
the FSF encourages community members to provide feedback on the new
draft at this site.



About the GNU General Public License (GNU GPL)

The GNU GPL is the most widely used free software license worldwide:
almost three quarters of all free software packages are distributed
under this license.  It is not, however, the only free software license.

Richard Stallman wrote the version 1 and 2 of the GNU GPL with legal
advice from Perkins, Smith & Cohen.  Version 1 was released in 1989, and
version 2 in 1991.  Since 1991, free software use has increased
tremendously, and computing practices have changed, introducing new
opportunities and new threats.  In 2005, Stallman began revising
the GPL for version 3. In January 2006, the FSF began a systematic
process of public review and feedback, with legal advice and
organizational support from the Software Freedom Law Center.


About the GNU Operating System and Linux

Richard Stallman announced in September 1983 the plan to develop a free
software Unix-like operating system called GNU.  GNU is the only
operating system developed specifically for the sake of users' freedom.
See http://www.gnu.org/gnu/the-gnu-project.html.

In 1992, the essential components of GNU were complete, except for
one, the kernel.  When in 1992 the kernel Linux was re-released under
the GNU GPL, making it free software, the combination of GNU and Linux
formed a complete free operating system, which made it possible for
the first time to run a PC without non-free software.  This
combination is the GNU/Linux system.  For more explanation, see
http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html.

The GNU components in the GNU system will be released under GPL
version 3, once it is finalized.  The licensing of Linux will be
decided by the developers of Linux.  If they decide to stay with GPL
version 2, then the GNU/Linux system will contain GNU packages using
GNU GPL version 3, alongside Linux under GNU GPL version 2.  Many other
packages with various licenses make up the full GNU/Linux system.


About Free Software and Open Source

The free software movement's goal is freedom for computer users. Some,
especially corporations, advocate a different viewpoint, known as "open
source", which cites only practical goals such as making software
powerful and reliable, focuses on development models, and avoids
discussion of ethics and freedom.  These two viewpoints are different at
the deepest level.  For more explanation, see
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html

The GNU GPL is used by developers with various views, but it was written
to serve the ethical goals of the free software movement. Says Stallman,
"The GNU GPL makes sense in terms of its purpose: freedom and social
solidarity.  Trying to understand it in terms of the goals and values of
open source is like trying understand a CD drive's retractable drawer as
a cupholder.  You can use it for that, but that is not what it was
designed for."


About The Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting
computer users' right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute
computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as
in freedom) software---particularly the GNU operating system and its
GNU/Linux variants---and free documentation for free software. The FSF
also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of
freedom in the use of software. Its Web site, located at www.fsf.org, is
an important source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support
the FSF's work can be made at http://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters
are in Boston, MA, USA.


Media contact

Brett Smith
Licensing Compliance Engineer
Free Software Foundation
617-542-5942 x18
brett at fsf.org

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