How Tivo benefitted from hackability

Posted Sep 24, 2006 23:21 UTC (Sun) by coriordan (guest, #7544)
In reply to: GPLv3 DRM clause by mingo
Parent article: Kernel developers' position on GPLv3

The problem with Tivo is not that they did a stealth operation, but that they like Linux because it's hackable, and they benefit from the freedom to tinker the software (to make it do TV stuff and to add spyware to gather data about your use of your TV), but then they rig the device to prevent the downstream recipients from benefitting from this same freedom.

This contradicts the GPLv2 world. In the nineties, the GPL made all software users of GPL'd software interact as equals. Quid pro quo. Share and share alike, etc. Then Tivo found a technology which let them distribute GPL'd software without treating the recipient as an equal. So some words need to be added to GPLv2 to restore the deal that GPLv2 gave everyone in the nineties.