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GPL to be Modified to Penalize Patents and DRM

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the license-to-chill dept.

null etc. writes "MSNBC is running an article about how upcoming changes to the GPL will retaliate against companies that patent software or produce DRM'ed products. "Software patents are clearly a menace to society and innovation. We like this to be more explicit. The basic idea is that if someone patents software, he loses the right to use free software. It's like a patent retaliation clause.""

3 of 665 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What about software under older GPL? Re:Taxatio by jdhutchins · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I wonder what will replace it?
    Probably GPL v2. For many projects, if you don't like the new GPL, just don't use (you do have to remove the "or any future version" clause as the linux kernel and others have already done though).

  2. Re:Read the article, not the headline... by nietsch · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Indeed, there is not much substance in the article.
    The fact that i distilled from it is this: FSF Europe (which is not FSF itself) got a grant from NLnet and filled a press release with speculation.

    --
    This space is intentionally staring blankly at you
  3. Re:Taxation? by Tony+Hoyle · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The GPL *is* a political statement.. has been for some time.

    It's just that a lot of developers buy into it. I did myself for a long time.

    There are plenty of other licenses - use them instead if you're not into the politics.