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Re: GPLv3 comedy unfolding -- "catch-22"


From: Alexander Terekhov
Subject: Re: GPLv3 comedy unfolding -- "catch-22"
Date: Wed, 02 Aug 2006 12:05:18 +0200

------
DRM "Misunderstood"
Authored by: OrlandoNative on Tuesday, August 01 2006 @ 05:00 PM EDT
Actually, PJ, your *right* to modify your software (assuming you have the
capability to do so, or the inclination) is not affected in *any* way. You can
still do that to your heart's content.

What *is* limited, however, is your ability to *run* this modified software on
the physical hardware... ...since once the software is modified, the unit's
manufacturer has no way of knowing whether it, in combination to the hardware,
will still perform 'acceptably' - not only in function, but also within any
other legally required boundaries (think frequencies in cell phones and wireless
devices, or other similiarly somewhat restricted applications).

This is the catch-22, as I see it (and apparently Linux sees it) in GPLv3.

As other's have noted, however, this *does not* affect your ability to run your
modified code on *other* devices - just not on that particular one.

Think of it as similar to a firearm. You can buy it, it's yours. But you can't
shorten the barrel beyond a certain point, add a silencer, or indescriminately
shoot people, even though you own it. And, assuming that it had some software
lockout to prevent misuse, would you really WANT to deactivate it? Or suggest
that one *should* be able to at whim? We also have 'freedom of speech'; but you
can get arrested for yelling 'fire' in a crowd. At some point, common sense is
a limit to individual freedom.
------

regards,
alexander.


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