Re: patent on O_ATOMICLOOKUP [Re: [PATCH] loopable tmpfs (2.4.17)]

Larry McVoy
2002-05-25T18:02:08Z

On Sat, May 25, 2002 at 07:50:30PM +0200, Wolfgang Denk wrote:
> I do like it very much when all code I write is GPLed, but there are
> situations where a there are good reasons for some application code
> to remain closed.

Yeah, like you're trying to make money. Which is fine. But if that
"application" needs to use the RT/Linux patent in order to work, it
either has to buy a license or be GPLed.

It's somewhat two faced that the protesters here are arguing that
everything has to be free in order for Linux to be used as a RT platform,
but then come back and complain that the FSMlabs patent says everything
has to be free if you don't want to pay.

Maybe Victor should have used a different model: if no money changes hands,
then it's free to use the patent, if money changes hand, FSMlabs wants a
cut. I think that was the intent, but as with all things, it's hard to
state that clearly in a legal document. If that was the intent, I support
it, I think it's perfectly reasonable.
--
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Larry McVoy lm at bitmover.com http://www.bitmover.com/lm