CBRonline.com reports that if all the developers upgrade to GPLv3, it is possible to stop Microsoft’s immoral bullying tactics.
“Microsoft made a few mistakes in the Novell-Microsoft deal, and GPLv3 is designed to turn them against Microsoft, extending that limited patent protection to the whole community. In order to take advantage of this, programs need to use GPLv3,” explained FSF founder Richard Stallman in an essay explaining why developers should upgrade to v3.
“Microsoft’s lawyers are not stupid, and next time they may manage to avoid those mistakes. GPLv3 therefore says they don’t get a ‘next time’,” he added. “Releasing a program under GPL version 3 protects it from Microsoft’s future attempts to make redistributors collect Microsoft royalties from the program’s users.”
