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

Chris Adams
2007-06-14T20:55:52Z

Once upon a time, Alexandre Oliva <aoliva@redhat.com> said:
>> What the GPL *does* say is that you can't "add additional
>> restrictions to the license"
>
>Not quite. It's more general than that:
>
> You may not impose any further restrictions on the recipients'
> exercise of the rights granted herein.

GPLv2 section 0 says:

Activities other than copying, distribution and modification are not
covered by this License; they are outside its scope. The act of
running the Program is not restricted, ...

The license does not cover running of the program. It doesn't restrict
it, but it doesn't cover it. Claiming otherwise is turning the GPL into
yet another dreaded EULA.

Nowhere does the GPLv2 define modification as "modify and run in place".
The Preamble emphasizes sharing; hardware is a fixed object and can't be
shared in the same fashion as software.

Also, GPLv2 section 2 includes:

In addition, mere aggregation of another work not based on the Program
with the Program (or with a work based on the Program) on a volume of
a storage or distribution medium does not bring the other work under
the scope of this License.

TiVo's firmware (and any restrictions it may carry) is not affected by
the GPLv2.