FreeBSD Popularity

[Rick N]

somewhere,..., According to Gates, GPLd software (Linux):
"makes it impossible for a commercial company to use any of that work or build on any of that work. So what you saw with TCP/IP or Sendmail, NFS,..., or the browser could never happen."

 I suppose this is exactly why BIG corps like Apple,and Juniper, and ..., chose *BSD code initially, 

 But am I glad that Linux's GPL is protecting my bank card in some ATM ? -careful now.
:)

> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 12:26:51 +0000
> From: frank at shute.org.uk
> To: sfourman at gmail.com
> CC: freebsd-chat at freebsd.org; falkman at gamozo.org
> Subject: Re: FreeBSD Popularity
> 
> On Sat, Mar 06, 2010 at 02:44:47AM -0600, Sam Fourman Jr. wrote:
> >
> > > To be honest, I think the licence puts off most of the commercial
> > > entities. Which is a *good* thing.
> > >
> > 
> > Explain your point on this? BSD is supposed to be commercial friendly.
> > 
> > Sam Fourman Jr.
> 
> I saw Linux go from a sort of hobbiest system to what it is now, where
> most of the patches come from RedHat, IBM and Novell.
> 
> These patches are focussed on whatever those big companies are
> focussed on ATM which doesn't necessarily coincide with what the
> user base wants.
> 
> For instance, who cares that Linux is patched to run on IBM Z-series?
> 
> IBM. Not me.
> 
> So you get a lot of cruft in the kernel which has nothing to do with
> the desires of the user base but it's what a PHB at IBM wants.
> 
> Yes, there are companies whom use and support FreeBSD but their say
> on FreeBSD development is limited and usually welcome. I'm thinking of
> Juniper.
> 
> My belief is that the FreeBSD license puts off the big commercial
> players because it's written in clear English and can be written on
> half a page of A4.
> 
> This puts the ball in the PHB's court unlike the GPL's reams of
> legalese which is punted along to the legal department. i.e the PHB
> can pass the buck and hence GPL software is used.
> 
> That's just a guess. I can't think why a license, that allows more
> freedom than an obtuse license that is dependent on the uncertain
> interpretation of a judge, is used. 
> 
> 
> Regards,
> 
> -- 
> 
>  Frank
> 
>  Contact info: http://www.shute.org.uk/misc/contact.html
> 
> 
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