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Story: BitKeeper: No holds barred open source infighting

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Actually, what the article writes is not true.

First of all, the free BitKeeper license does not state that you cannot use BitKeeper (BK) to help develop a competing product; it states that you cannot help develop a competing product *at all*.

Second, Mr Tridgell has never actually used BitKeeper under its free license, so he is not bound by any of the terms set forth therein; the statement that "some open source developers haven't kept up their end of the bargain" is thus simply not true.

Third, it's important to note that the "bargain" mentioned has actually gradually shifted over time; the "you are not allowed to work on a competing product" clause was not in the license when BitKeeper was first adopted for the kernel development process, for example. Rather, the original bargain was - roughly - "the kernel developers get to use BitKeeper for free; BitMover gets to say that its product is good enough for even a very high-profile, high-visibility product like the Linux kernel" (i.e., BitMover essentially got free advertising).

It seems, however, that now that BitMover has actually managed to establish itself, Mr McVoy does not need the Linux kernel anymore, and is instead only worried about protecting his company's revenue. Now, that is not morally wrong in itself; but if you look at the circumstances of the withdrawal of the free BitKeeper license, it is pretty obvious that Mr. Tridgell was merely a convenient straw-man for Mr. McVoy.

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