Does linux use GPL or not??

[David Johnson]

On Mon, 07 Aug 2000, Kristiono Setyadi wrote:
> On Mon, 7 Aug 2000, David Johnson wrote:
> 
> > 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.
> 
> What about the other version of Linux (like RedHat, Slackware, etc.)?
> Can we say that the Kernel of the Linux have been changed?

All of the different Linux distributions use the same kernel. Some will
use different patches or modifications that the others don't, but all
of these patches are also under the GPL. So far, the kernel has not
forked, and I doubt that it will unless there is a technical reason to
do so.

> In some countries, the copyright is some of the most frequently violated.
> Most of the microsoft (and other commercial software..) are pirated.
> Have you heard about Linux pirated??

There is no point in pirating Linux. It is already free with no cost.
There is nothing wrong with purchasing a $80 boxed set of Redhat and
making a million copies of it, selling them for $1 each. There may be a
trademark violation if these copies are sold as "official" Redhat
distributions, but there is still very little reason to do this.

Overall, there is very little incentive to pirate Linux. It is a
completely different class of software than Windows. As I like to say,
"you can't steal what is free".

-- 
David Johnson
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