There is a very long history of commercially acceptable non-GPL open source software. Here's some widely corporate-used software that played an integral role in both commercial products and early internet/network services:
* BSD-derivative Operating Systems (code available with first releases since in 1977)
* Sendmail (1983)
* Apache HTTPD (1995)
* Qmail (1997)
* MIT Kerberos (late 1980s)
* UMich LDAP (now OpenLDAP) (1995)
Modern examples are considerably more numerous, ranging from Apache Project's Java projects, to LLVM.
The places where the FSF and GPL have really succeeded are where there was usually a strong network effect (compilers and operating systems are large individual undertakings, for instance) and limited downside to the use of the GPL.
[Edit] I realize that some fringe downvoting GPL proponents take offense at the idea that the GPL isn't single-handedly responsible for mass adoption of open source, but come on guys, there's a long and rich history of commercial open source adoption outside of the GPL.
* BSD-derivative Operating Systems (code available with first releases since in 1977)
* Sendmail (1983)
* Apache HTTPD (1995)
* Qmail (1997)
* MIT Kerberos (late 1980s)
* UMich LDAP (now OpenLDAP) (1995)
Modern examples are considerably more numerous, ranging from Apache Project's Java projects, to LLVM.
The places where the FSF and GPL have really succeeded are where there was usually a strong network effect (compilers and operating systems are large individual undertakings, for instance) and limited downside to the use of the GPL.
[Edit] I realize that some fringe downvoting GPL proponents take offense at the idea that the GPL isn't single-handedly responsible for mass adoption of open source, but come on guys, there's a long and rich history of commercial open source adoption outside of the GPL.