From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Detlev Zundel Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:40:59 +0200 Subject: [U-Boot] U-book and GPLv3? (fwd) In-Reply-To: <20090618145128.69F27832E416@gemini.denx.de> (Wolfgang Denk's message of "Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:51:28 +0200") References: <20090618145128.69F27832E416@gemini.denx.de> Message-ID: List-Id: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit To: u-boot@lists.denx.de Hi Wolfgang, > I was asked about relicensing U-Boot as GPLv3: > > From: Richard Stallman > Subject: U-book and GPLv3? > To: Wolfgang Denk > Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:17:28 -0400 > > > I really enjoy the name U-boot. > What are the advantages of U-boot over PMON? > > Have you considered moving U-boot to "GPLv3-or-later"? > > > ---------- > > > > I know that we have had similar discussions before (see for example > http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.comp.boot-loaders.u-boot/24029), but I > would like to take the chance and re-poll what the community's > opinion about this is. For what it's worth, I would appreciate moving to GPLv3. Sparing details, my reasoning is the following. Basically I think most people appreciate the GPL for what it means in pratical terms: * the freedom to use the software for any purpose, * the freedom to change the software to suit your needs, * the freedom to share the software with your friends and neighbors, * and * the freedom to share the changes you make. Obviously the second item here will become void if vendor lockout of updates becomes common. So what will be left of the essential freedoms? I can study the code, I can modify it, but I am not allowed to run it. Excellent. I think it is not a coincidence that devices which can be updated with arbitrary firmware sells pretty good in the meantime. Who buys routers capable of running OpenWRT because of their original firmware? Of course vendors do still have the possibility to reject any form of warranty or liability once a firmware not provided by them is applied, but still the choice should be made by the person who owns the device. Just think about the "owns" in the previous sentence. Do you really own a device anymore if you cannot fix it? Would you buy a car that you are not allowed to change the tires by yourselves? Well I get carried away, so I'd rather stop ;) Cheers Detlev -- I propose that each copy of the OS should ship with an orange jumpsuit and sensory deprivation goggles, since all Vista users have been unilaterally declared 'enemy combatants' by the content apparatchiki" - Daniel Nevin. -- DENX Software Engineering GmbH, MD: Wolfgang Denk & Detlev Zundel HRB 165235 Munich, Office: Kirchenstr.5, D-82194 Groebenzell, Germany Phone: (+49)-8142-66989-40 Fax: (+49)-8142-66989-80 Email: dzu at denx.de