[ILUG] Novell A Linux Leader? GPL 3 and

[Justin Mason]

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Colm MacCarthaigh writes:
> On Tue, Feb 07, 2006 at 09:45:15AM +0000, Paul O'Malley wrote:
> > My understanding is as follows. The linux kernel was released under GPL 
> > V2, not GPL V2 or later, that in Linus's mind means he can't go to GPL V3.
> 
> It would be impossible to re-license much of the existing code as v3,
> there are simply too many authors involved, however it would be trivial
> for Linus to re-license all of his parts, and all *future*
> contributions. So the kernel was a whole would effectively become v3
> licensed - by virtue of quickly becoming functionless without those
> parts.

hey Colm,

Having done it, let me tell you -- don't underestimate the laziness of
many contributors when it comes to jumping through "print, sign and fax"
legal hoops.   If this approach was taken, there would indeed be quite a
while when the kernel would be functionless, due to many other
contributors not getting it together to relicense their contributions.

- --j.
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