Alan Mackenzie wrote:
In gnu.misc.discuss RJack <[email protected]> wrote:
Hyman Rosen wrote:
On 1/11/2010 11:34 AM, RJack wrote:
UHHHH..... Doesn't look like Google embraced the GPL to me
"Embrace" is a silly word here. Firms don't wrap their arms round
software to give it hugs. "Embrace" is one of these well-nigh
meaningless words loved by market droids, one which sound really
positive and friendly, yet can be used when the user is anxious to
avoid being pinned down to any precise meaning. It looks like that's
how you've used the word above.
"Embrace" and extend is one of the most infamous business strategy known
to the Software World. You may not like it but it's reality.
Android runs a Linux kernel. Linux is distributed under the GPL.
Google could have chosen a non-GPLed kernel, as Apple did. But
they did not. Google uses a variety of licenses. For example,
Google Chromium is BSD-licensed
<http://code.google.com/chromium/terms.html>.
Android is NOT Linux, no matter how you spin it Hyman
RJack, "is" isn't a helpful word, here. Android contains Linux, and
includes other software too. You may be getting confused between
Linux the kernel and the multitude of "Linux"es which, along with the
kernel, include GNU system software and tools, BSD licensed
networking stuff and MIT licensed X11. In that sense, Android "is"
just as much a "Linux" as Red Hat, or SuSE, or Debian, or Gentoo, or
......
I'm not confused about anything at all. Android is Android as in
"Google" and Linux is Linux as in "Linus Torvalds". I know that you GNU
fanatics believe all software is "Free Software" but strength of belief
doesn't make it true.
Sincerely,
RJack :)
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