Fwd: Information request regarding

[Henrik Nordström]

tor 2010-05-27 klockan 16:24 +0000 skrev Luke Kenneth Casson Leighton:

>  ahhh, tivoisation. deep joy.  someone remind me: what were linus
> torvalds "good reasons" to object to GPLv3 for the linux kernel?

He has expressed a pretty clear view that he view GPLv3 as morally
overreaching into areas where he do not want the license to go, such as
the tivoisation / hardware lockdown issue but also the patent issues,
and as such not in line with what he sees as the proper license for
Linux.

An example he gives directly related to this discussion is that he
want's to be able to lock down his kids computer without violating the
license.

        "I put Linux on my kids computers, and I limit their ability to
        upgrade it."

        "I think it *is* ok to control peoples hardware. I do it
        myself."

http://marc.info/?l=linux-kernel&m=118236278730043&w=4

Stated close to three years ago. Can't speak for what his views on the
subject is today, but have no reason to believe it's substantially
changed.

Linus primary focus for the license is the freedom of the code to
evolve, not full freedom to end users.


As a related note RMS also expressed similar views regarding hardware
lockdown in a panel debate I participated in some many years ago. Then
in a discussion regarding microwave ovens where RMS expressed the view
that he thinks it's perfectly fine to lock down a a GPL licensed
microwave oven firmware in such way that it can not be tampered with, a
view that is clearly in conflict with the anti-tivoization provisions of
GPLv3 unless the firmware is stored in such manner that it can not be
replaced by anyone (not even with the right keys).

So it's certainly not a black/white world regarding tivoization.

Regards
Henrik