Since it's last revision of the GPL over a decade and a half ago, the software landscape has changed dramatically. Thus, the Free Software Foundation (FSF) on Wednesday released guidelines for revising the GNU General Public License. Version 3 of the GPL is currently in the works.

The organization hopes to have the first draft of the license available for review at a conference scheduled for January at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The GNU GPL is one of the most widely-used free software licenses; it is estimated that three-quarters of free and open source programs use the license.

The FSF pointed to research by Gartner that indicates as much as 75 percent of all IT organizations could have some portion of their technology strategies dealing with open source software. As a result, the group says the commercial sector will have a greater interest in what the license contains.

"The guiding principle for developing the GPL is to defend the freedom of all users," said Richard Stallman, founder of the Free Software Foundation. "As we address the issues raised by the community, we will do so in terms of the four basic freedoms software users are entitled to -- to study, copy, modify and redistribute the software they use."

After the first draft of the GPL version 3 is released in January, the FSF will then invite feedback from the software community at large. A second draft of the license is expected next summer with a final draft set for fall. The final version will be released no later than spring of 2007.

"Through this process, all voices will be heard. We will evaluate every opinion and will consider all arguments in light of the GPL's goals," Free Software Foundation general counsel Eben Moglen said.

Analysts applauded the FSF's move to keep the process open to all.

"Because this process is both inclusive and public, the FSF is ensuring that the views of everyone with an interest in the future of the GPL can participate in defining the next generation of the license," added Ovum IT research director Gary Barnett.

The last major revision of the GNU General Public License occurred in 1991.