Termination inevitability w/ aggregated GPLv2-only

Most redistributors, at least with regard to embedded systems, typically
include the kernel named Linux with their distribution.  As such, even
when GPLv2-or-later and/or GPLv3-{only, or-later} works are included in
the aggregation, the termination implications are effectively those of
GPLv2-only, since it's unlikely in any event the violator will remove
the GPLv2-only work (particularly if it's Linux).
This commit is contained in:
Bradley M. Kuhn 2014-11-10 07:52:56 -05:00
parent 9641db188d
commit cedd23d4cc

View file

@ -874,6 +874,16 @@ Given that much discussion of v3 has focused on its so-called more
complicated requirements, it should be noted that v3 is, in this regard,
more favorable to violators than v2.
However, note that most Linux-based systems typically include some software
licensed under GPLv2-only, and thus the copyright holders have withheld
permission to redistribute under terms of GPLv3. In larger aggregate
distributions which include GPLv2-only works (such as the kernel named
Linux), redistributors must operate as if termination is immediate and
permanent, since the technological remove of GPLv2-only works from the larger
distribution requires much more engineering work than the negotiation
required to seek restoration of rights for distribution under GPLv2-only
after permanent termination.
\chapter{Standard Requests}
As we noted above, different copyright holders have different requirements