Author: Pallav Nawani
Date: 12:37:43 06/20/05
Go up one level in this thread
On June 20, 2005 at 12:57:00, Eric Oldre wrote:
>
>
>This would be like if Linus Torvards decided next week that
>he wanted to take Linux commercial. That wouldn't be fair to
>all those other people who have helped him make linux the
>great program it is today.
>
Hi,
Linus torvalds cannot make linux commercial because:
(a) Most of his original code has been thrown away.
(b) People who have added code to linux own the copyright to their code.
(c) Linus cannot change the license of other people's code without their
permission. This is the single biggest reason why Linux cannot be made
commercial.
(d) If he does decide to change the Linux license, he has to remove other
people's code. In such a case,
(1). The Linux kernel you have has been _licensed to you_ under GPL. As such,
it continues to be under GPL and you are free to make copies of it and
distribute it. The license change by Linus won't affect _your copy_.
(2) Linus can release new version, which is commercial, but your copy
continues to be under GPL.
(3) You can enhance, improve, make copies of, distribute and sell your copy
of Linux kernel, as long as you obey GPL.
(4) Effectively, this means that even after Linux goes commercial, GPL
copies of the original kernel can be used.
Pallav
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