FLOSS Weekly 747: New, Hot, Big, and Doomed - Business Software License, OpenELA Initiative
Aug 30, 2023
auto_awesome
Open source expert Doc Searls discusses the challenges faced by open source companies as they grow, including Red Hat's source code distribution changes and the formation of the Open Enterprise Linux Association. The podcast also covers the control exerted by companies over open source projects, the shift towards 'source available' licenses, concerns about AI-generated code, Apple's support for right-to-repair, and the issues with USB-C cables and McDonald's ice cream machines.
The right to repair movement is gaining momentum in Europe and the United States, promoting consumer choice and reducing electronic waste.
Capitalism and open source can coexist and even benefit each other, as demonstrated by the success of the Linux kernel.
The adoption of restrictive licenses like the Business Source License raises concerns about violating the principles of open source and faces growing backlash in the community.
Deep dives
Europe's proposed right to repair law
Europe is making progress in implementing a proposed right to repair law for consumer electronics. The law aims to ensure that manufacturers make their products open enough to be repaired by consumers, reducing electronic waste and promoting sustainability.
Advancements in right to repair legislation in the United States
The United States is also making strides in right to repair legislation. Multiple states have introduced bills that would require manufacturers to provide access to repair documentation, tools, and replacement parts to consumers and independent repair shops. These efforts aim to promote consumer choice, reduce e-waste, and empower individuals to repair their electronics.
Encouraging progress toward a more accessible and sustainable future
The progress in both Europe and the United States in the right to repair movement is a positive step towards a more accessible and sustainable future. By promoting repairability and reducing electronic waste, these initiatives contribute to environmental conservation and empower consumers to have greater control over their electronic devices.
Open source and capitalism
The speaker discusses the relationship between capitalism and open source, acknowledging the challenges but emphasizing that they are not inherently incompatible. Business has been good in a downstream way for open source, and in some cases, it has even benefited open source. For example, the Linux kernel has maintained a separation from corporate managers, allowing it to thrive.
The evolving landscape of open source licensing
The podcast explores the evolving landscape of open source licensing, specifically focusing on the Business Source License (BSL) and similar licenses. These licenses aim to address the issue of companies monetizing open source projects without contributing back to the original developer. However, the speakers express concerns that such licenses violate the fundamental principles of open source, such as freedom to use and availability to everyone. They highlight the example of MongoDB and HashiCorp adopting the BSL, while also noting the growing backlash against these licenses in the open source community.
Doc Searls, Dan Lynch, and Jonathan Bennett talk about what happens when open source companies get too big for the licenses that helped them get there, and how their communities are dealing with that.
Red Hat recently changed its source code distribution rules, prompting other vendors like Oracle, SUSE, and CIQ to form the Open Enterprise Linux Association in response. What are the implications of these changes, and do Red Hat's actions violate the GPL?
Canonical's tight control over the LXD container management project, pulling it back in-house from the open source community which led to a community fork being created called Incus.
Companies like MongoDB and Hashicorp are moving away from open source licenses towards "source available" licenses like the Business Source License (BSL) that restrict commercial use.
There are growing concerns around using AI-generated code from tools like GitHub Copilot, and whether copyright and licensing restrictions carry over.
Apple reverses its stance on right-to-repair, with Apple throwing its support behind a California right-to-repair bill.
iFixit and Public Knowledge have been hit with a DMCA violation for creating a device that interacts with a McDonald's ice cream machine.