Copyleft/guide
6
0
Fork 0
Code Issues Pull requests Projects Releases Packages Wiki Activity Actions

Intro paragraph to new section explaining GPLv3's lock-down issue.

Browse source
This commit is contained in:
Bradley M. Kuhn 2014-03-20 08:53:35 -04:00
parent dccc2155ae
commit d2c59d90e9
1 changed files with 14 additions and 7 deletions
Show stats Download patch file Download diff file Expand all files Collapse all files

21
gpl-lgpl.tex
View file

@ -2574,14 +2574,21 @@ licensor in a chain of distribution. The GPL solves this problem in another
way --- through its automatic licensing provision found in GPLv3\~S10 (which
is discussed in more detail in \S\~ref{GPLv3s10} of this tutorial).
% FIXME: new section here, just to talk DRM before the other section.
\section{GPLv3's views on DRM and Device Lock-Down}
GPLv3 introduces provisions that respond to the growing practice of
distributing GPL-covered programs in devices that employ technical means
to restrict users from installing and running modified versions. This
practice thwarts the expectations of developers and users alike, because
the right to modify is one of the core freedoms the GPL is designed to
secure.
The issues of DRM, device lock-down and encryption key disclosure were the
most hotly debated during the GPLv3 process. FSF's views on this were sadly
frequently misunderstood and, comparing the provisions related to these
issues in the earliest drafts of GPLv3 to the final version of GPLv3 shows
the FSF's willingness to compromise on tactical issues to reach the larger
goal of software freedom.
Specifically, GPLv3 introduced provisions that respond to the growing
practice of distributing GPL-covered programs in devices that employ
technical means to restrict users from installing and running modified
versions. This practice thwarts the expectations of developers and users
alike, because the right to modify is one of the core freedoms the GPL is
designed to secure.
Technological measures to defeat users' rights --- often described by such
Orwellian phrases as ``digital rights management,'' which actually means