Does linux use GPL or not??

[David Johnson]

On Mon, 07 Aug 2000, Kristiono Setyadi wrote:
> I still confused with this GPL or non-GPL.
> First, I want to ask about Linux.
> Does Linux use a GPL or not?

Yes (sort of). Linus Torvalds licenses the kernel under the GPL.
However, he also includes a statement that it is permissable to link to
kernel routines from non-GPL programs. Thus it is a slightly modified
GPL. So it is rather like the LGPL in some ways.

> If someone distributed it (Linux, I mean..) with no GPL, can we called
> this a crime?

If you modified the kernel and distributed it under a different
license, you will get in serious trouble. It is not a crime exactly,
but a copyright violation. When you go to court it will be to a civil
court not a criminal court.

 -- 
David Johnson
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