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Will the FreeQt foundation actually work?
by Nach on Monday 28/Jan/2008, @03:12
Some question if FreeQt can work depending on what Nokia does.
This guy suggests (http://insanecoding.blogspot.com/2008/01/say-goodbye-to-former-qt-and-hello-to.html) that FreeQt won't do anything if the open source version becomes Windows only.

Personally, I think Nokia bought Trolltech to prevent other companies from using QTopia on their phones, and really don't care about advancing Qt at all. They will probably also inevitably end up doing something to hurt us.
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Re: Will the FreeQt foundation actually work?
by Aaron Seigo on Monday 28/Jan/2008, @03:28
well, yes, that blog is what you get when a developer comments on legal issues and does so before having all the facts in hand. it's a completely bogus analysis.

as for motivation, it may make more sense to consider the benefits to Nokia rather than the detriments to others. why? because that's what usually motivates such companies.

it's business basics.
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Re: Will the FreeQt foundation actually work?
by Sage on Monday 28/Jan/2008, @04:01
"Insane Coder" wrote: "So Nokia could continue to develop Qt for their cellphones, and for customers such as Adobe, and even release Windows only, or perhaps even Windows and Mac OS X builds of Qt both proprietary and under the GPL, but none for X11." This is the foundation of the critique in the blog post.

However there is a fundamental error here. The Agreement defines Qt as being Qt on the "KDE Window System" (a defined term), which is designated as the X Window System (X). Note that the agreement does not concern itself at all with Qt on Windows, Mac or the Linux frame buffer (except indirectly: a GPL Qt on X can be ported to these other platforms). So when you read "Qt" in the agreement, read it as "Qt on the X Window System" (the agreement is not just for Linux, it's for all U*xes).

So if Trolltech (or its successor) does not release an "Important Release" of Qt for X every year, or releases a non-free version of Qt on X without an equivalent free version within a year, the Foundation will have the right to release the latest release under BSD or other open source licenses.
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Re: Will the FreeQt foundation actually work?
by Adrian on Monday 28/Jan/2008, @04:02
Nokia did this move to have an answer to the Google phone I think. Therefore they need Qt and also Qtopia as a free and open alternative. Maybe they need to open it up even more, like under LGPL or BSD license.

What I personally may not even like, since the GPL is the best license to get further parties to contribute ....
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