Re: Dual-Licensing Linux Kernel with GPL V2 and GPL V3

Adrian Bunk
2007-06-15T16:22:19Z

On Fri, Jun 15, 2007 at 08:45:43AM -0700, Linus Torvalds wrote:
>
>
> On Fri, 15 Jun 2007, Carlo Wood wrote:
>
> > On Fri, Jun 15, 2007 at 06:33:51AM -0400, Daniel Hazelton wrote:
> > > Incorrect. Read section 9 of the GPLv2. It's pretty clear that the "any later
> > > version" clause is optional. Whats more is that since the modern linux kernel
> > > *IS* a "composite work" composed of Linus' original code with changes
> > > contributed by other people - Linus retains copyright to the work as a whole.
> >
> > Huh - surely not to files added to the kernel that were written by
> > others from scratch!
>
> Actually, yes. Even to those - when they are part of "the whole".
>
> I'm sorry, but I've learnt more about copyright law, and talked to more
> lawyers about licensing that probably most of the rest of the people
> involved in this discussion have *combined*.
>
> And yes, at least under US copyright law, and at least if you see Linux as
> a "collective work" (which is arguably the most straightforward reading og
> copyright law, but perhaps not the only one) I am actually the sole owner
> of copyright in the *collective* work of the Linux kernel.

US law is only relevant for < 5% of all people.

How valid would any action based on US copyright law be in other parts
of the world?

> The way "collective works" work, there are two separate copyrights: there
> is the copyright in the "separate contribution", which is vests ininitally
> in the author of that contribution (unless he signs over his copyrights,
> often by virtue of working for somebody else).
>
> And then there is the copyright in the "collective work", which would be
> me.
>
> Of course, owning coyright in the "collective work" doesn't actually give
> me complete control anyway. I cannot relicense things in ways that go
> against the rules of the individual works. But in a very real sense, yes,
> I actually do own a certain (*limited*) copyright over even the parts that
> have not been explicitly signed over to me.
>...

Does this include GPLv2'ed code not intended to be used in the Linux
kernel submitted by people other than the copyright holder for inclusion
in the Linux kernel?

If yes, the FSF has exactly the same rights if taking a GPLv2 driver
from the Linux kernel and including it in GNU Hurd.

> Linus

cu
Adrian

--

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"Only a promise," Lao Er said.
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