The OSI approved the Socialtext Common Public Attribution License (CPAL) today. Details here. Interesting move...it gives the OSI stamp of approval to an open source license whose major new idea is a requirement to require users of an open source product to give attribution via display of a project logo (or I guess anything else they decide to require) on the user's GUI.

A couple of comments...

I know Ross Mayfield (CEO of Socialtext), and he is a serious guy who completely understands what he is getting himself into. If he decides that this is what he wants to require for his project - I certainly support his right to do so, but...

I don't really like the idea of GUIs looking like the sides of a NASCAR race car, (i.e., covered in logos).

So here's my suggestion...I have felt for a long time that companies who benefit from the use of open source projects should acknowlege its use. We have been publishing our "IP Ingredients" for quite a long time - probably close to two years now. See how we do it here. I think this is a clean and comprehensive way to report use, and I wish more followed our lead.