GPLv2 vs. GPLv3 Debate
One of the most commonly used software licenses for open-source projects is the GNU General Public License (GPL). The GPL allows users to legally copy, distribute, and modify the software. There are various versions of the GPL including GPLv1, GPLv2, GPLv3. There exists a debate between two different views of freedom that conflict between GPLv2 and GPLv3.
This debate was commented on by the creator of the Linux kernel Linus Torvalds where he states that he believes the GPLv3 is overreaching in scope as a license. Torvalds believes that people should have the freedom to do whatever they want with Linux. That is, he believes users should to have the freedom to produce a Linux-based device that implements some form of DRM, such as TiVo a digital video recorder. Torvalds also believes that there exist inherent problems with the GPLv3 that stem from extending the ‘reach’ of the liscence past the derived work. He believes taht in doing so one will always get into a situation where people who designed two different things get into a conflict when they meet. Torvalds also argues that the GPLv2 avoids these sort of conglucts entirely by limiting yhe liscense to only one specific work and not trying to extend it past said work.
Resources Used
