Messages in this thread | | | From | "Jason Kingsland" <> | Subject | Re: Linux GPL and binary module exception clause? | Date | Wed, 10 Dec 2003 17:43:00 -0500 |
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"Andre Hedrick" wrote:
> How can the additional words alter the mean of GPL itself?
Because if the additional words in the license predate the publishing date of the code, they form a valid part of the license for that code as published.
So the answer to whether such a clause in valid and enforceable (rather than just Linus' opinion) depends on when any particular piece of code was first submitted publicly into the kernel tree, who the copyright holder is (usually the author) and hence which license prevailed at the time the code was first published.
Later changes to a license are not retroactive to earlier publications unless the original copyright holder agrees - as only the copyright holder can change the terms of any license after publication.
The readme for Linux version 0.1 had the copyright owned by Linus and was not licensed under GPL at all:
" This kernel is (C) 1991 Linus Torvalds, but all or part of it may be redistributed provided you do the following:
- Full source must be available (and free), if not with the distribution then at least on asking for it.
- Copyright notices must be intact. (In fact, if you distribute only parts of it you may have to add copyrights, as there aren't (C)'s in all files.) Small partial excerpts may be copied without bothering with copyrights.
- You may not distibute this for a fee, not even "handling" costs. "
This changed in Version 0.12 with the following statement of intent:
" The Linux copyright will change: I've had a couple of requests to make it compatible with the GNU copyleft, removing the "you may not distribute it for money" condition. I agree. I propose that the copyright be changed so that it confirms to GNU - pending approval of the persons who have helped write code. I assume this is going to be no problem for anybody: If you have grievances ("I wrote that code assuming the copyright would stay the same") mail me. Otherwise The GNU copyleft takes effect as of the first of February. If you do not know the gist of the GNU copyright - read it. "
The next major release was v0.95 in March 1992 which contained a reference to GPL with this clarification:
" NOTE! The linux unistd library-functions (the low-level interface to linux: system calls etc) are excempt from the copyright - you may use them as you wish, and using those in your binary files won't mean that your files are automatically under the GNU copyleft. This concerns /only/ the unistd-library and those (few) other library functions I have written: most of the rest of the library has it's own copyrights (or is public domain). See the library sources for details of those. "
For release 0.99 the clarification was missing, with just a standard GPL V2 being used for releases up to 0.99.11 when the (in)famous disclaimer about user programs was added:
" NOTE! This copyright does *not* cover user programs that use kernel services by normal system calls - this is merely considered normal use of the kernel, and does *not* fall under the heading of "derived work". Also note that the GPL below is copyrighted by the Free Software Foundation, but the instance of code that it refers to (the linux kernel) is copyrighted by me and others who actually wrote it.
Linus Torvalds "
and then it stayed constant until 2.4 when the GPL V2-only clause was added:
" Also note that the only valid version of the GPL as far as the kernel is concerned is _this_ license (ie v2), unless explicitly otherwise stated.
"
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