CodePlex Doesn’t Allow GPL v3 Projects

November 12, 2008

CodePlex only offers a handful of open source licenses by default, but you can use others if you e-mail them and ask for a custom license.  I tried to put the LaTeX build component up on CodePlex since Sandcastle is hosted there along with other extensions to Sandcastle.   The build component needs to be licensed under the GPL v3 since it is built with MimeTeX which is under the GPL v3.  I contacted CodePlex about using a custom license and they said I couldn’t use GPL v3 - it isn’t supported.  err, what?  How can a open source hosting site not support GPL v3 (but does support v2)?  I’m not a fan of the FSF/GPL*, but you have to support one of the fastest growing licenses.

*I have no problem with strong copyleft licenses, I just prefer permission licenses and dislike the FSF politics.