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- Monday, February 13, 2006
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GPL v3
The new (v3) version of the GPL (the licence the Linux and a lot of other open source software is distributed under) is causing a lot of Ruckus. It's been slightly hijacked by some extremeists to add a clause that it cannot be used with DRM schemes. Now I'd be happy to see DRM go away too, but it can only be done via educating consumers to reject it.
[Sidenote: If you've been stung by a DVD that -forces- you to watch 10 minutes of adverts before the main showing (Disney!) you'll know what I mean. If they want to do that, fine, they should just have to state that -clearly and visibly- on the front of the DVD, right next to the price. Then the consumer can decide.]
Anyway, the zealots are winning, GPLv3 will have the restriction, and so will go the way of the dodo. Linus Torvalds (Linus of Linux fame) is not going to adopt it for Linux, causing much hostility from the zealots..
Anyway, the Register has a nice piece that fits my feelings quite well, the choice quote from it being:
"Blaming Linus for not carrying *your* banner in your personal fight for "freedom" is insane. Fight it yourself if you must, but don't start dragging someone into it who just wants time to plug away at his OS."
