Is the Apache License better than the GPL? Good results for Sourcefire, Actuate BIRT and Fonality. Ugly results for Sun. Funding for Likewise Software and Eucalyptus Systems. SugarCRM Express. GroundWork Monitor Starter Edition. And more.

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Is the Apache License better than the GPL?
Following Eric Raymond’s assertion that the GPL is either futile or unnecessary (see Tuesday’s Links post), Matt Asay opened up a can of worms with his sudden conversion to the position that the Apache License might be better than the GPL for open-source business. One person happy to see Matt’s change of thinking was Gianugo Rabellino, of Sourcesense, who has been arguing in favor of the Apache License for some time.

Financial results: The good, the bad and the ugly
The good: Sourcefire reported revenue up 36% in Q1 to $18.6m, reduced net loss to $1.1m, while Actuate’s BIRT-related business exceeded $3.5 million in Q1, up 32% year-over-year, and Fonality was cash flow positive in March with a 102% CAGR.

The bad and the ugly: Sun announced a net loss of $201m on revenue of $2.6bn, compared to loss of $34m on $3.3bn a year ago.

Funding outbreak
TechFlash reported that Likewise Software raised another $10m from existing investors, while Eucalyptus Systems debuted its open source private cloud platform, with $5.5m Series A funding (PDF).

The best of the rest
# SugarCRM introduced Sugar Express: On-demand CRM from $7/month.

# OpenLogic positioned latest version of OLEX as open source software governance platform.

# Zend released Zend Framework 1.8, delivering RAD for PHP.

# Wazi published “How to Convince Your Manager to Use Open Source Software”, by Stormy Peters.

# Mike Milinkovich reported on the Eclipse Foundation’s trials and tribulations with the Lesser GPL

# The Belgian and the Dutch administrations agreed to coordinate their policies on open standards and open source.

# Neocleus shipped its NeoSphere client virtualization offering.

# Carlo Daffara provided some resources for public administrations interested in OSS.

# GroundWork launched GroundWork Monitor Starter Edition.

# Open source Magazine: Thoughts on How to Select Between COTS and Open Source.

# Open source vs Microsoft, Glyn Moody vs Richard Steel. The battle of Newham has begun.

# Trend Micro acquired Third Brigade, which owns and maintains OSSEC, the Open Source Host Intrusion Detection Project.

# Xandros’ BridgeWays launched its first cross-platform systems management packs.

# The ODF Alliance welcomed Office 2007 support for ODF in SP2.