Thomas Bryan wrote:
> On Wed, 19 May 1999, Brandon W. Beasley wrote:
>
> > Thus, I ask the question again, what
> > happens to Linux once Microsoft owns it?
>
> Didn't we recently have a long thread on GPL? If Linus dies and some
> strange sequence of events puts the Linux copyright in MS's hands, I don't
> think you need to worry.
>
> Anyone who has bought a commercial version of Linux has a copy of the
> source code. According to the license under which he bought it (GPL), he
> can modify and redistribute it. The current kernel coders would probably
> just continue with the latest GPL'd version they (or anyone else) own.
> MS could "fork" and start selling a closed source MSLinux based on the
> version whose copyright they buy, but *no one* can stop the development of
> an open source program once a single copy is obtained by an outsider under
> an open source license...unless that license is thrown out in court.
"Thrown out of court" - those are the choice words. That's troublesome. And
if you read that article, you realize that the legal minds are not on the same
page with the GPL - some regard the GPL as completely unenforceable in a court
of law. With no settled law on the matter, we're in no-man's land. Our legal
system doesn't work very well with the concept of "free." That is, no
"contractual consideration."
>
>
> -------------------------------------------
> Tom Bryan
> Applied Research Laboratories
> University of Texas at Austin
>
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