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

Andrew McKay
2007-06-20T21:41:19Z

Alexandre Oliva wrote:
> On Jun 20, 2007, Andrew McKay <amckay@iders.ca> wrote:
>
>> However, I don't see how this would ever require a company like Tivo
>> or Mastercard to have their networks play nice with a unit that has
>> been modified by the end user, potentially opening up some serious
>> security holes.
>
> Which is why the GPLv3 doesn't make the requirement that you stated.
>

So if it's not a requirement of the GPLv3, then Tivo could deny content based
signing the binary image of the Linux kernel and using that signature as
authentication on their network (or their content providers network). A
modified Tivo box would not be able to preform it's original task of being a PVR
at that point, at least with the content provider's signal. Seems pretty
pointless to me. Seems like almost the same thing as not allowing an unsigned
Linux kernel to boot on the system. Though it would still be possible to get
the Tivo box to play tetris or something like that.

Andrew McKay