Linus was always bitchy... [LWN.net]

Linus was always bitchy...

Posted Sep 28, 2006 2:37 UTC (Thu) by AJWM (guest, #15888)
In reply to: Linus was always bitchy... by RMetz
Parent article: Why Torvalds is sitting out the GPLv3 process (Linux.com)

> objecting to someone selling you a device running code you wrote and not letting you modify it in a useful manner

If you don't like the format they're selling it in, don't buy it. And in the TiVo case, you can do whatever the heck you like with the code, except to run it on hardware that won't support it -- which, in that case, includes the TiVo.

It's the hardware that's broken, not the software.

Personally I avoid broken hardware, and encourage my friends to.

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Linus was always bitchy...

Posted Sep 28, 2006 3:48 UTC (Thu) by RMetz (guest, #27939) [Link]

But I'm allowed to buy it, and if I do the GPL is supposed to ensure that I have meaningful access to the code. AFAIK, you can only run TiVo's code on a TiVo, and if I can't run modified code on any device, AT ALL, then on a functional level I wouldn't say I've been allowed to modify it. At least, not in any sense that matters.

I think this violates the spirit of the GPL. But the GPLv2's language on this matter leaves the loophole open. The clause under discussion closes this loophole.

I'm actually still unsure about the GPLv3, but PJ over at Groklaw has done a lot to bring me over to its side. I'd suggest everyone go read what she has to say for an opinion based in an understanding of the law and legalese.