Netscape posts source code licence for review

Netscape today gave substance to its bid to fend of Microsoft's advance in Web browsers by releasing a draft version of the new Netscape Public Licence (NPL) for review at the new mozilla.org Web site. The site has been created to boost Netscape client code activity.

Netscape hopes to discover useful response from developers before releasing final licensing and code later this month. It will leave the draft at the site for about a week.

"The purpose of the Netscape Public Licence is to enable the maximum number of individuals and organisations to access the code and participate in its development," said Marc Andreessen, executive vice president of products at Netscape in a prepared statement.

"By allowing early access to the draft version of the licence, we can help ensure that it meets the needs of those people who will be adding enhancements, and creating increased benefits for our customers."