GPL Advantages and Disadvantages - Why you should use BSD license

Posted by Vivek Gite [Last updated: February 21, 2007]

Bruce Montague has published an in depth article titled as “Why you should use a BSD style license for your Open Source Project”. This is an excellent reading

This article makes a case for using a BSD style license for software and data; specifically it recommends using a BSD style license in place of the GPL. It can also be read as a BSD versus GPL Open Source License introduction and summary.

From the article:
In contrast to the GPL, which is designed to prevent the proprietary commercialization of Open Source code, the BSD license places minimal restrictions on future behavior. This allows BSD code to remain Open Source or become integrated into commercial solutions, as a project's or company's needs change. In other words, the BSD license does not become a legal time-bomb at any point in the development process.

In addition, since the BSD license does not come with the legal complexity of the GPL or LGPL licenses, it allows developers and companies to spend their time creating and promoting good code rather than worrying if that code violates licensing.

=> Why you should use a BSD style license for your Open Source Project

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