Novell delivers Linux package to home PCs

TalkBack 18 of 61:

Next »

« Previous

• Thread View
• Flat View

Re: You don't own Linux.

You license it's use under the GPL. There are license restrictions.

Nope. Someone's been living in EULA-land too long.

The license is to distribute. Since Linux is a conglomeration of copyrighted works, the only way to freely copy and distribute it legally is under a license.

Use of the software doesn't need a license any more than using a newspaper, book or music CD needs a license.

A proprietary EULA, by contrast, is not a license - it's a contract with the end user. That's why you have to click "I Agree."

"But don't you agree to the GPL?" you ask.

The answer is no. The GPL licenses that which would be forbidden under copyright law without it. If you want to distribute a copyrighted work, you need a license. That's the law, not a condition of use set forth by Linus or Richard.

If you distribute and don't honor the GPL terms, you are committing copyright infringement - NOT you are violating the GPL, because the GPL is not a contract. A EULA is, though.



.

Posted by: none none   Posted on: 04/21/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

• Dell Delivers Innovative Mobile at Saint Cecilia's Wandsworth Church of England School Dell Saint Cecilia's was a new school that wanted to place ICT at the core of ... Download Now
• Secure Copy Version 5.0.2 ScriptLogic Secure Copy? is a powerful, comprehensive migration solution that ... Download Now
• VMware Infrastructure: A Guide to Bottom-Line Benefits VMware Frustrated by the costs of maintain ever larger data centers?or building ... Download Now