On: Open Source License Business Perception Report

[falcolas]

> Open Source [...] it's free work

I've heard this again and again, and yet every time I see open source used by a company, there are patches being applied, compliance concerns and audits, and integration efforts.

Sometimes this effort costs less than writing the code yourself (such as integrating with a database), but not always.

[nopzor → falcolas]

It can be one sided taking, and _often_ is.

Apple and Microsoft, for example, have taken significantly from BSD/Apache-like code for their own OSes.

They wouldn't have been able to do that with GPL-like code.

[bluGill → nopzor]

BSD advocates will tell you this is a feature not a bug and object to your use of the word "taken" as if it is a bad thing.

Apple at least has contributed a lot back - they are a major force behind clang for example.

[boomboomsubban → nopzor]

>They wouldn't have been able to do that with GPL-like code

Then explain Android.

[nopzor → boomboomsubban]

http://source.android.com/

an android phone is oss android plus a bunch of proprietary (non oss) google bits.

[boomboomsubban → nopzor]

Google took significantly from GPL licensed code for their own operating system, which is exactly what you said couldn't happen.