Could Linux Still Go GPL3?

turnitover writes "Even though Linus has said 'The Linux kernel has always been under the GPL v2. Nothing else has ever been valid,' LinuxWatch is reporting that Richard Stallman has said it's ultimately up to the developers. And those on the LKML (Linux Kernel Mailing List) are going back and forth about whether to move to GPL3. The sticking point, not surprisingly, is the issue of DRM." In response to the DRM issue Linus wrote: "I personally think that the anti-DRM clause is much more sensible in the context of the Creative Commons licenses, than in software licenses. If you create valuable and useful content that other people want to be able to use (catchy tunes, funny animation, good icons), I would suggest you protect that _content_ by saying that it cannot be used in any content-protection schemes."

Comments

the private keys issue

[tlord]

You only have to give out your private keys
if not possessing them is an obstacle to using
the software as intended.

You are free to sign code all you like if all
you depend on is your reputation. It's when
you try to restrict peoples use of the code
that you run into problems.

Linus earlier cited Red Hat as a case of a company
that will have to adjust to GPLv3. IANAL but
I suspect and hope he's right -- they've been
cheating for years.

-t

I've got a question

[RedNovember]

Since when the fuck does RMS get a say in Linus' kernel? So he says it's up to the developers. That doesn't mean that it is. It's up to the Linus, not the developers, no matter what RMS says. It's not his kernel to license.

Re:Up to the developers?

[Richard_at_work]

Even with Linus going GPL3, it would be next to impossible to have the kernel go GPL3 because of the number of people who have contributed little snippets of code here and there, you would have to get all of their individual permissions because the Linux kernel development doesnt require copyright assignation and the license doesnt include the 'or later' clause. Its doable, but as I said, near impossible.

Not exactly

[winkydink]

It might be "up to the developers" to make a GPL3 operating system that is forked from the current Linux kernel, but it won't be called Linux as Linus owns that trademark and Linus says no to GPL3. Perhaps this is what Stallman is ultimately after. He can finally have a GNU operating system without hyphens or slashes.

Stallman: a shrill voice in the wilderness.

Don't say that out loud!

[RJabelman]

Or you'll end up with RMS standing behind you trying to shout 'GNU' before every other word you say....

Re:Up to the developers?

[Richard_at_work]

You are quite right, however there is also a large number of people that have contributed significantly more than a 'snippit' - enough to still make it a very arduous task with the final outcome still likely to be having to rewrite blocks of code.

What benefit would the Linux kernel have from going GPL3?