Originally posted by UselessFileSystem
The GPL on the other hand places restrictions and handicaps and legal requirements on the software in question. Now, these requirements are for the good of the community and the users but they are infact restrictions on use and create a lot of legal uncertainty in what exactly needs to be done and when and what qualifies as what.
Also, if Apple or Microsoft take that BSD code and then claim they wrote it, or sue other people for using the same code... they are actually breaking the law. They don't own the Copyright on the code in question, therefore they cannot sue others FOR using that code, also its illegal for them to claim they DO own the copyright. Microsoft and Apple would have to produce the code in question and prove it was being used in other's code, and then it would be simple matter of the ACTUAL copyright holder stepping forward with his code going "No..I wrote that. I released it under the BSD license. I own the copyright." and Microsoft / Apple / etc would then be under attack from the courts for perjury and god only knows what else...
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