Mozilla Reworks Public License
Browser provider Mozilla is reworking its MPL open source license. The process should be open and public and lead to modernizing and simplifying the document.
The originator of the Mozilla Public License (MPL) is lawyer Mitchell Baker, who created the license 12 years ago to allow conveying Netscape source code into an open source project. The currently used MPL 1.1 is already 11 years old.
Baker drew for the most on GPLv2 and the Apache license for the original MPL, both of which have new revisions, as the current head of the Mozilla Foundation explains in her blog. With over 10 years of open source experience, it was time to modernize the license.
The rework should occur very much like that for the GPL, as a public process. The Mozilla project is initially planning an alpha version based on MPL 1.1 and feedback gathered over the last few years. Commentary and discussion should follow, with subsequent beta revisions and release candidate drafts until the rework is completed. Accompanying it will be instructions for the licensing and new licensing upgrades.
Target completion is the end of 2010. The Mozilla Foundation has an Updating the MPL site that describes the feedback process, including commenting the current 1.1 license and a dedicated mailing list.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Red Hat Releases RHEL 10 Early
Red Hat quietly rolled out the official release of RHEL 10.0 a bit early.
-
openSUSE Joins End of 10
openSUSE has decided to not only join the End of 10 movement but it also will no longer support the Deepin Desktop Environment.
-
New Version of Flatpak Released
Flatpak 1.16.1 is now available as the latest, stable version with various improvements.
-
IBM Announces Powerhouse Linux Server
IBM has unleashed a seriously powerful Linux server with the LinuxONE Emperor 5.
-
Plasma Ends LTS Releases
The KDE Plasma development team is doing away with the LTS releases for a good reason.
-
Arch Linux Available for Windows Subsystem for Linux
If you've ever wanted to use a rolling release distribution with WSL, now's your chance.
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.