Messages in this thread | | | Date | Thu, 24 Apr 2003 20:23:22 +0100 | From | Jamie Lokier <> | Subject | Re: Flame Linus to a crisp! |
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> >>> I want to make it clear that DRM is perfectly ok with Linux! > >>thanks for such a clear statement. > >Anybody would think Linux was written solely by Linus, the way His > >words are taken as summarising the intent of all its authors...
Firstly, let's be clear I do actually agree with Linus. The GPL is not strong enough to prevent DRM usage, in my opinion.
(Aside: It's not a very convinced opinion, though, nor would I be unhappy if a future license were able to prevent free software being the basis for devices which it is _illegal_ to reprogram, except under very strict conditions.
I consider software barriers fair game, whereas threat of imprisonment is a very serious matter. Then again, think about tamper-proof cameras for evidence gathering against abuse by authorities - that's a great use of a tamper-proof device, if you can trust it).
In response to the person who thanked Linus, fair enough. It was a good thing to do.
However, Linus' statements are sometimes interpreted as allowing or disallowing various things as he interprets the GPL - and it is dodgy ground for a business to build much on that, because Linus' opinion on the license is just that: his opinion. If he were the sole author, or represented all the authors, his opinion would, I believe, hold more legal weight than it does. But he isn't.
I just wanted to point that out, in case the person who thanked him for the clear statement took the statement as meaning it was a good idea to build a business which depends on that.
Timothy Miller wrote: > You are free to make a fork of the Linux tree for which DRM is NOT ok. > > Likewise, Linus is free to allow or disallow whatever he feels like in > HIS tree.
Secondly, this is not logically valid. It doesn't work like that.
If Linus' interpretation of the GPL is a fair assessment, then I am _not_ free to fork the Linux tree and make DRM not ok for the fork.
I'd be free to fork the tree and attach a differing _opinion_ to the license, but I cannot add further licensing clauses. The GPL forbids this.
For the same reason, Linus is _not_ free to allow or disallow whatever he feels like in his tree, either.
In principle. In pracice I suspect whatever Linus says goes simply because he's the de facto leader and nobody with any clout disagrees strongly enough to contest him. If there were ever a big fork over some major ethical issue, that would change.
Thirdly, keep in mind that all the above is just my opinion. I could be mistaken, or irrelevant :)
h.a.n.d., -- Jamie
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