this post was submitted on 26 Jun 2023
171 points (98.9% liked)
Linux
48655 readers
1301 users here now
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
Rules
- Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
- No misinformation
- No NSFW content
- No hate speech, bigotry, etc
Related Communities
Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0
founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
The GPL doesn't differentiate because they'd be getting into the same messy territory as the Anti-Capitalism license. If Red Hat stops selling RHEL, does that mean no one can offer it for free and sell commercial support for it? Does Red Hat only get to tell them to stop if they're competing? How big does the competing company need to be before it's not allowed? Is it okay if they're a non-profit, or a capped-profit, or a government organization?
Keep in mind these are just some issues I thought of in thirty seconds. I'm sure there are plenty more.
Branding is removed because it would be trademark infringement to keep it; if Red Hat wanted it intact, they could give permission to use their trademarks in this scenario, but I doubt they do.
The ability to sell free software is a fundamental right under the GPL. As Drew Devault says, Open source means surrendering your monopoly over commerical exploitation.
That's why profiting off free software is hard; because you don't have a monopoly anymore. I think that's an important feature.
My position is that I don't think this is how a free software company should behave, but I'll refrain from voicing any further opinions until Red Hat actually terminates a customer's contract for redistribution.
Yes, I agree. They're one of the biggest contributors to the kernel alone, but the kernel isn't even the most important part of GNU/Linux. The userland software matters a lot too, and they're responsible for funding/developing a lot of that, as well. There's some stuff in that video I disagree with but overall it's not too bad.
I'm pretty sure that, regardless of who you obtain the software from, you have rights under the GPL. I could be wrong.
I probably could have linked to another answer on the GNU website, but I found the context of this one amusing: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#StolenCopy