Author: Eric Oldre
Date: 14:28:59 06/20/05
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On June 20, 2005 at 15:37:43, Pallav Nawani wrote: >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 Thanks for clearing that up Pallav. Sorry for any confusion I may have caused with my poor understanding of the GPL.
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