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    SubjectRe: Dual-Licensing Linux Kernel with GPL V2 and GPL V3
    On 6/19/07, Jan Harkes <jaharkes@cs.cmu.edu> wrote:
    >
    > You keep referring to the four freedoms so I googled for them and found
    >
    > http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html
    >
    > So which of the freedoms did Tivo take away?
    >
    > * The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
    >
    > * The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to
    > your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a
    > precondition for this.
    >
    > * The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
    > (freedom 2).
    >
    > * The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements
    > to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3).
    > Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
    >
    > It doesn't seem to me they took away freedoms 1, 2 or 3. They released
    > the source to any free software components and we can study, modify,
    > redistribute, improve and release our improvements for the benefit of
    > the whole community.
    >
    > btw. freedom 3 seems to be just repeating what we already got from
    > freedoms 1 and 2.
    >
    > So the only one we could differ in opinion about is freedom 0. I would
    > say that they in no way are limiting my use of the Linux kernel (which
    > is the part I mostly care about) I can run the program for any purpose I
    > see fit. What if I want to run mythtv on my PC at home? Tivo has no
    > control whether or not I can do so even when my kernel contains any of
    > their modification or improvements, so I claim that I in fact retained
    > freedom 0.

    Much as I hate to extend the life of this execrable thread, since I
    think Alexandre makes Sisyphus look like a hard-nosed pragmatist, it
    seems pretty clear that TiVO impinges "[my] freedom to run the
    program, for any purpose" if "any purpose" includes "make my TiVO do
    what I want," and likewise to "adapt it to [my] needs" -- freedoms 0
    and part of 1. It is just disingenuous to argue otherwise.

    Dave
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