Sun is looking at GPL3

Sun is considering adopting the forthcoming version 3 of the GNU Public License for its Solaris operating system, in addition to the CDDL which they use now.

"We've begun looking at the possibility of releasing Solaris (and potentially the entire Solaris Enterprise System), under dual open source licenses. CDDL (which allows customer IP to safely commingle with Solaris source code) and under the Free Software Foundation's GPL3," announced Jonathan Schwartz, President of Sun, on his public blog. �We want to do what we can to drive more efficiency and cross-pollination between Linux and OpenSolaris.�

Solaris always held the respect of developers, and so �cross-pollination� would undoubtedly be beneficial for both operating systems. A possible barrier, however, is Linus Torvalds' unwillingness to consider GPL 3 for the kernel, although portions may still use it. �If the two licenses have differing terms, there may be a conflict between the two when you try to move back and forth,� said Brian Ferguson, an intellectual-property attorney quoted by CNET news, demonstrating that law school isn't for everyone.

In the past, Schwartz criticized the GPL, arguing against provisions which make it difficult to mingle it with proprietary software projects. Since everyone else knew that this is one of its design purposes, and it's considered a �feature�, nobody was surprised. In any case, Schwartz acknowledged that some customers actually prefer the GPL and that �we also recognize that diversity and choice are important. [...] We're reaching new customers, because we gave them the freedom to choose.�