[Discuss] "Getting Cute with the GPL"

[Alan W. Irwin]

On 2006-11-16 16:22-0800 Thor Wolpert wrote:

> http://lkml.org/lkml/2006/1/25/273
>
> Here's the link to Linus's statement that they are staying with GPL v2.  He 
> could always change his mind, but the current Linux Kernel is v2 and states 
> that it is only v2 and does not automatically change to v3.
>
> So although interesting arguments, they are not too applicable for the kernel 
> at the moment.

Your comment about GVPLv2 and Linus is correct, but the true situation is
even more bizarre (from my POV) than that; Linus's anti-GVPLv3 stand is
almost completely supported by virtually every kernel developer including
Alan Cox who hitherto had the sense to be more aware of software freedom
issues than Linus. The kernel developers really don't see any problem with
what Tivio has done (making it impossible to exercise the four freedoms
underlying the GPL on Tivio hardware through DRM).  Either they are correct
and this legal loophole in GPLv2 will not be widely exploited or they are
incorrect, and DRM will start biting them in the butt on their machines as
their own four freedoms go down the tubes. For now, it is clear the kernel
will remain GVPLv2, but expect that to rapidly change if a lot of DRM
nonsense starts occurring on hardware that the kernel developers take
seriously.

The other important point is the vast majority of non-kernel software that
is installed on our Linux systems is GPLed or LGPLed.  Think of all the GNU
stuff in Linux.  Also think of GNOME and KDE (or even PLplot).  Each
software project will have to make up its own mind about version two versus
version three. Because Pamela Jones is a Linux user with a background in the
law, and because she is such an enjoyable writer to read, she is going to
have a strong influence on the outcome.  That's why I brought her most
recent work at http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20061116103031303 to
this list's attention.  Enjoy!

Alan
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Alan W. Irwin

Astronomical research affiliation with Department of Physics and Astronomy,
University of Victoria (astrowww.phys.uvic.ca).

Programming affiliations with the FreeEOS equation-of-state implementation
for stellar interiors (freeeos.sf.net); PLplot scientific plotting software
package (plplot.org); the Yorick front-end to PLplot (yplot.sf.net); the
Loads of Linux Links project (loll.sf.net); and the Linux Brochure Project
(lbproject.sf.net).
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Linux-powered Science
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