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Linux: Dual-Licensing the Kernel

Written By
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Web Webster
Web Webster
Jun 12, 2007

“‘I was impressed in the sense that it was a hell of a lot
better than the disaster that were the earlier drafts,’ Linus
Torvalds explained in reply to a comment suggesting that he was
impressed with the final draft of the GPLv3. He went on to add, ‘I
still think GPLv2 is simply the better license.’ The discussion
began with a suggestion that the Linux kernel be dual-licensed
GPLv2 and GPLv3. Linus noted, ‘I consider dual-licensing unlikely
(and technically quite hard), but at least _possible_ in theory. I
have yet to see any actual *reasons* for licensing under the GPLv3,
though. All I’ve heard are shrill voices about ‘tivoization’ (which
I expressly think is ok) and panicked worries about Novell-MS
(which seems way overblown, and quite frankly, the argument seems
to not so much be about the Novell deal, as about an excuse to push
the GPLv3)…'”

Complete Story

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Web Webster

Web Webster

Web Webster has more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience in the tech sector. He’s written and edited news, demand generation, user-focused, and thought leadership content for business software solutions, consumer tech, and Linux Today, he edits and writes for a portfolio of tech industry news and analysis websites including webopedia.com, and DatabaseJournal.com.

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