On 07/05/2013 12:24 PM, David Weinehall wrote:
On Fri, Jul 05, 2013 at 04:14:57PM +0300, Uoti Urpala wrote: [snip]a post from Alan Cox explaining this. I don't see why you would post your link again in full quote after that without explaining why you still thought Linus wasn't wrong.I posted it fully because the parent I responded to said that we shouldn't just post links, thus I interpreted it as though the full text of that link was prefered. As for my opinions: While Alan's opinions are certainly relevant for the large amounts of code *he* has participated, I think anyone would be hard pressed to argue that the kernel as a whole work doesn't originate from Linus.
I haven't finished reading that entire thread, but from what I've seen so far, Alan's response was not about the code he (or anyone else in particular) had contributed but about the meaning and interpretation of the GPL. While Linus' decision as to the license of his code is final, his decision as to the meaning of the GPL and what needs to be done to specify which version of the GPL is being used is not. The kernel is indeed now clearly stated as being "GPL v2 only", and apparently has been so since at least 2001. However, there is apparently a legally cognizable argument to be made that the combination of A: the clear text of the license with B: the way the kernel license was stated at some point in history means that at that long-ago point in history the kernel was in fact effectively "GPL v2 or later". The fact that Linus apparently always intended it to be "v2 only" might well override that argument if it ever got tested in court - but given how much code and how much development you'd have to throw out to go back to that ancient point and proceed forward without using any "v2 only" code, the odds of anyone ever bothering (much less of its ever being tested in court) are exceedingly slim. -- The Wanderer Warning: Simply because I argue an issue does not mean I agree with any side of it. Every time you let somebody set a limit they start moving it. - LiveJournal user antonia_tiger