How should all organizations which happen to open-source code automatically be "for profit" just because some other companies might use such code for commercial purposes? The two examples are very similar but the NFL is non-profit. If the precedent is set, the damage to the FLOSS movement would be real and lasting.
Section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code provides for the exemption of business leagues, chambers of commerce, real estate boards, boards of trade and professional football leagues, which are not organized for profit and no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.
http://sportsfans.org/2012/03/why-is-the-national-football-l...
One more needle to add to the haystack of bull shit from my government I put up with.
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopick03.pdf
"IRC 501(c)(6) provides for exemption of business leagues, chambers of commerce, real estate boards, boards of trade, and professional football leagues (whether or not administering a pension fund for football players), which are not organized for profit and no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual."
Of specific interest is the "Statutory History" section on page four - a history of private organizations asking for exemptions.
The NFL is a 501(c)(6) trade association, so that's expected. Its not a 501(c)(3) charity.
The rules are completely different.
They aren't. See, inter alia, the Apache Software Foundation. "BOLO" doesn't mean "blanket prohibition".