Open Source Weblog

While Sun has previously opted to create its own Community Development and Distribution License for projects such as OpenSolaris, the open source Java Application Server, and its OpenSSO project, Schwartz noted that the company was interested in reaching out to developers that prefer the GPL.

" First, we're looking at how to reach developers and customers who prefer the GPL… we want to do what we can to drive more efficiency and cross-pollination between Linux and OpenSolaris," he wrote on his blog.

"Second, bear in mind we've yet to pick the open source license under which the core intellectual property behind our multi-threaded Niagara systems will ship (although we're biasing to GPL). Is there opportunity for the two communities (OS and system) to interact? Surely..." he added.

While the intention to encourage more cross-pollination with Linux is a good idea, it might hit some problems given Torvalds's stated intention to stick with GPL v2.

The number of complexity of open source licenses has led to fears that licenses could become a barrier between different open source projects and disrupt end user adoption of open source software, to the extent that the Open Source Initiative last year chartered a committee to address the issue of license proliferation.