As a software developer working for a large clothing store chain, you are responsible for creating software used to connect retail store computers to a central database at the head office. recently, some friends of yours suggested that you publish your software under the gpl. what are some direct benefits to publishing your software under the gpl? to publish software made for a company under the gpl, you need the company's permission because the company owns any software that it pays developers to create. when you approach people in your company regarding oss and explain how companies benefit from releasing software as open source, you are asked what benefits the company will receive from funding an open source project over time. your company also wants to know what the procedure is for releasing and maintaining oss. what benefits will you offer them? where could you send them to gain more information on procedures involved in the open source community?