Naming rights [LWN.net]

Naming rights

Posted Oct 25, 2006 18:04 UTC (Wed) by jstAusr (guest, #27224)
In reply to: Naming rights by nix
Parent article: GPLv3: What the Hackers Said (Linux Journal)

Alan Cox wrote:
>There is no such thing as GNU/Linux. For an article like this it's really important to understand and clarify that (and from the US view also as a trademark matter).

And I think that is the kind of statement from kernel hackers that started the current thread. Now if you want to write about subjects that are tangent to that we can continue on forever. And just to get things started in the right direction, what to you think about butterflies?

Now if one of the main kernel hackers is going to suggest possible legal action against the use of the term GNU/Linux then there is a problem.

Despite what they say, it is the kernel hackers that are changing the game by not wanting to make adjustments to the new playing field that has been presented by mega-corporations and their paid in full politician friends.

I don't want to steal anything or use anything from the media companies that I don't have a clear legal right to use, however, I do not want the media companies to be my MASTER, especially when I don't have any interest in their products in the first place. If the kernel hackers are willing to make that sacrifice, that is fine, but they have no one to blaim but themselves.

I have never seen anything from the FSF or its agents that suggests they want to hijack the term Linux, they just want people to realize that there is a whole lot more to what is running on their computers than what is provided by the kernel people. The problem Alan Cox is having with someone possibly thinking Linux is a GNU project when the term GNU/Linux is used, stems from the fact that the kernel hackers don't mind if people think that the total of the system is Linux. If the kernel hackers would make the distinction that Linux is the kernel, the problem would eventially go away.

Living in a world where I am a drone for the use of the super rich has no appeal to me. I realize that you may prefer that and that is fine.

(Log in to post comments)

Naming rights

Posted Oct 25, 2006 20:21 UTC (Wed) by nix (subscriber, #2304) [Link]

I'll admit failing to understand how you went from Linux being called what
it is because of historical inertia to being a `drone for the use of the
super rich'.

Naming rights

Posted Oct 26, 2006 3:57 UTC (Thu) by walken (subscriber, #7089) [Link]

>>There is no such thing as GNU/Linux. For an article like this it's really important to understand and clarify that (and from the US view also as a trademark matter).

>Now if one of the main kernel hackers is going to suggest possible legal action against the use of the term GNU/Linux then there is a problem.

Yeah, I felt that way when I read Alan's statement too.

No problem though, I'll just call the OS 'GNU' from now on, in order to avoid infringing on Linux's copyright. I'll reserve 'linux' for when I talk about the kernel.