Yes, you can modify the GPL terms [LWN.net]

Yes, you can modify the GPL terms

Posted Oct 2, 2006 16:54 UTC (Mon) by JoeBuck (subscriber, #2330)
In reply to: Linux follows an open decision process, and you can fork it if you dont like it by sepreece
Parent article: Busy busy busybox

While you can't modify the GPL text itself, you can still use the GPL as a basis to form a license with slightly different terms. The only restriction is that you have to do it in two parts.

Include the GPL test in your distribution.
State terms such as "This progrem is licensed under GPL version n, with the following exceptions:
Then state whatever you wish to change (example: you could add language permitting DRM usage to GPL v3).

There's nothing new about this: there's already a lot of "GPL with exception" code out there, sometimes done to permit linkage with code that has a GPL-incompatible license.

(Log in to post comments)