Item Subject: cc:Mail Text
Doug Werth posted last Thursday (8/19) an announcement that
HP is "open sourcing" Query, Editor, and a couple Java class
libraries (Image and VPlus).  The URL given was

        http://www.interex.org/tech/3000/hp30003.html

At the time of the posting, the URL was not working; it is now.

HP is calling this "shared source" because, as described in detail,
the plan fails the ten criteria required to be called "open source."


The "MPE Shared Source User License Agreement" contains a clause
that seems wacky to me:

        8.2 Availability of Source Code. Any Modification which You
            create or to which You contribute must be made available
        in Source Code form to Interex either on the same media as an
        executable version or via an accepted Electronic Distribution
        Mechanism. You are responsible for ensuring that the Source Code
        version remains available for a period of at least twelve (12)
        months even if the Electronic Distribution Mechanism is
        maintained by HP or Interex.

Twelve months?!  I guess if the source tree is maintained under CVS
then this is automatic; otherwise, it could be a real pain, especially
for prolific contributors.

        http://www.interex.org/tech/3000/cvslicense.html#8


The "HP Shared Source Download Form" asks for demographic info (including
annual budget), but thankfully this section is optional.

        http://www.interex.org/tech/3000/cvsform.html


--Glenn