The Free Software Foundation (FSF) will today officially launch version three of the most popular open-source licence in the world, the GNU General Public License, after 18 months of public consultation and comment.

Key updates to the new document include an increased focus on internationalisation and a clause preventing deals such as the Microsoft-Novell tie-up, which involve open-source distributors organising patent-protection arrangements with commercial vendors.

There have been rumours that the terms of GPL 3 could create a split in the open-source community, with Linux creator Linus Torvalds one of the most vocal opponents. But the FSF is in more celebratory mood.

"Beyond the creation of an improved licence, the process of drafting version 3 has helped highlight vital issues for the community of free software users," wrote FSF executive director Peter Brown on a forum posting. "Now, with the release of GPL v3, we will see new defences extended to free software. These defences will continue the long history of fighting all efforts to make free software proprietary."

Mark Tolliver, chief executive of open-source software management specialist Palamida, said the impact of the new version on the community would be significant.

"It's the first change since 1991 so it's a big deal – it will force people to understand the changes and work out whether that licence will work for them, " Tolliver added.

In related news, Palamida has updated IP Amplifier, its own intellectual property detection and reporting solution. IP Amplifier can now detect any products firms are using that contain GPL v3 code.