We have been requested by some users to explain the differences between the GPL license and the Open Software License. This has arisen because of the level of integration between Freeway and Joomla and later Drupal and typo3.
From GPL v3 http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html
” 9. The Free Software Foundation may publish revised and/or new versions of the General Public License from time to time. Such new versions will be similar in spirit to the present version, but may differ in detail to address new problems or concerns.
Each version is given a distinguishing version number. If the Program specifies a version number of this License which applies to it and “any later version”, you have the option of following the terms and conditions either of that version or of any later version published by the Free Software Foundation. If the Program does not specify a version number of this License, you may choose any version ever published by the Free Software Foundation.”
We are examining releasing under GPL v3 specifically in future and will in all likelihood do that.
In relation to the Open Software License http://www.gnu.org has a strong position which we obviously support. Here is their opinion.
” Open Software License, all versions through 3.0
The Open Software License is a free software license. It is incompatible with the GNU GPL in several ways.
Recent versions of the Open Software License have a term which requires distributors to try to obtain explicit assent to the license. This means that distributing OSL software on ordinary FTP sites, sending patches to ordinary mailing lists, or storing the software in an ordinary version control system, is arguably a violation of the license and would subject you to possible termination of the license. Thus, the Open Software License makes it very difficult to develop software using the ordinary tools of free software development. For this reason, and because it is incompatible with the GPL, we recommend that no version of the OSL be used for any software.
We urge you not to use the Open Software License for software you write. However, there is no reason to avoid running programs that have been released under this license.”
We are very strongly in support of the software freedom advocacy aspects of GPL in relation to eCommerce and CMS systems and advise developers to consider licensing as a consideration in eCommerce application choice.