The Linux Foundation Delivers New Licensing Terms

The Linux Foundation has announced that the organization will be releasing IAccessible2 for Windows under the BSD license. The organization will also be releasing AccProbe, a new desktop application testing tool.

 

IAccessible2 is a new accessibility API for Microsoft Windows applications. Initially developed by IBM (News - Alert) under the codename Project Missouri, IAccessible2 has been placed under the aegis of the Free Standards Group

 

To assist developers in discovering and correcting code problems in their Windows applications, AccProbe uses IAccessible2 platform services. It was developed in Eclipse by IBM and donated to The Linux Foundation's Open Accessibility Workgroup. Adobe Systems (News - Alert) Incorporated discussed plans to support IAccessible2 in the next major releases of Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader at this year's CSUN Conference on Disabilities, Linux stated.

 

"The Open Accessibility workgroup is working hard to ensure all developers can incorporate the IAccessible2 API into their work for the benefit of all persons with disabilities,' said Jim Zemlin (News - Alert), executive director at The Linux Foundation. 'By transitioning to the BSD license and providing important testing tools for developers, the workgroup is demonstrating our commitment to computer access for all."

 

IAccessible2 is already supported in IBM Lotus Symphony, Firefox, and Eclipse. Assistive Technology in API is also supported by vendors such as JAWS, NVDA, Window-Eyes and ZoomText. Open source AT can be easily integrated into proprietary Windows environments with the license change to BSD. This makes programs more accessible to computer users with disabilities. Windows users with disabilities can gain access to more applications as the BSD license is designed to allow software released under the license to be incorporated into proprietary product.

 

Recently, the company announced the availability of the Linux Weather Forecast, built in collaboration with LWN.net editor Jonathan Corbet. The Forecast tracks the developments in the Linux development community that can appear in the mainline kernel and/or major distributions, providing an easy way for Linux users, vendors and ISVs to see the status of specific Linux kernel projects that factor into their business plans.