Funambol Helps New AGPLv3 Open Source License Gain Formal OSI Approval

Leader in mobile open source adopts and helps ratify new license that closes
ASP loophole

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Funambol, the leading
provider of Mobile 2.0 messaging software powered by open source, today
announced that the AGPLv3 has received formal approval by the Open Source
Initiative (OSI). Funambol led the process of the license's approval by the
OSI after adopting AGPLv3 in November. It was the first company to adopt the
license, which closes the "ASP loophole".
The AGPLv3 was released by the Free Software Foundation last June as an
addition to the GNU General Public License, which is the world's most popular
free license and accounts for almost three quarters of all licensing of free
software packages. Unlike GPLv3, the AGPLv3 license enforces copyleft when
software is distributed as a service (SaaS), which is a fundamental
requirement when considering how consumers and enterprises purchase and use
software today.
"We created the Honest Public License to address the ASP loophole, but
always said we would be first in line to adopt the AGPLv3," said Fabrizio
Capobianco, CEO of Funambol. "For companies committed to open source, this
license is very important as many applications today are delivered through the
SaaS model. Funambol was happy to take the leadership role and help the
AGPLv3 receive formal OSI approval and legitimize the license for other open
source companies to adopt."
Funambol was the first open source company to adopt the AGPLv3 last
November and has since been leading the process of getting the AGPLv3 through
the OSI ratification process. WaveMaker Software also recently announced its
adoption of the AGPLv3 for the new version of their WaveMaker Visual Ajax
Studio, a tool for building database-driven Ajax Web applications without
having to write complex code.
"For us, the AGPLv3 license made perfect sense," said Christopher Keene,
CEO of WaveMaker. "Our enterprise Web 2.0 software requires the SaaS
distribution model and the AGPLv3 makes certain that copyleft will be
protected. Version 3 of the AGPL ultimately protects the primary reason for
open source's success -- ensuring people can contribute code and their ideas
back to the community."
In order for a license to receive formal OSI approval it must undergo the
OSI's License Review Process. Funambol submitted the license to the review
board last fall. The purpose of this process is to ensure that all licenses
and software labeled as "open source" conform to the standard open source
definition held by the OSI to standardize and discourage duplicative licenses.
"AGPLv3 is a useful tool for developers of, for example, web applications
who are seeking to ensure perpetual respect for end-users' freedoms. SFLC
believes there are many development projects that would benefit from
considering the use of AGPLv3, and we welcome the OSI's decision," said Eben
Moglen, Director of the Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC).
About Funambol
Funambol provides mobile 2.0 messaging software powered by open source.
The company is the leading provider of open source push email and PIM sync
solutions for the mass market. Funambol open source has been downloaded
2,000,000 times by tens of thousands of developers and users in 200 countries.
The commercial version of Funambol has been deployed at service providers,
mobile operators, portals, device manufacturers and ISVs including customers
such as 1&1, Earthlink and CA, Inc. (formerly Computer Associates). Funambol
is headquartered in Redwood City, CA with an R&D center in Italy. See
www.funambol.com.
SOURCE Funambol

Shelly Milam of Page One PR, +1-415-875-7491, shelly@pageonepr.com, for
Funambol