Re: [Ghm-discuss] Main Topic for 2012

[Rick C. Hodgin]

Linux is GPLv2, and Linus Torvalds and the Linux maintainers are strongly 
against v3.

GPLv2 is behind a serious deficiency in copyleft protection with regards to 
TiVo-ization, and hardware makers are already creating products to render GPLv2 
impotent.

We need strong free software. Not lesser free software that suffers behind a 
weak GPLv2 and a base of developers whose philosophical beliefs do not relate 
to free software, but only shared collaboration with partial open source, all 
the while also allowing closed source proprietary blob contributions.

It's not right, and the two are not the same.

We NEED free software (our own free software) to combat all these intrusions 
into / against copyleft. We are one company offering Linus $500 million for 
Linux rights away from being done.

Best regards,
Rick C. Hodgin

-------- Original Message --------
 From: address@hidden
 Sent: Thu, Jun 7, 2012 04:04 PM
 To: Rick C. Hodgin <address@hidden>
 CC: address@hidden; address@hidden; address@hidden
 Subject: Re: [Ghm-discuss] Main Topic for 2012

>   Either we believe in free software, or we don't.  Either we get the
>   HURD finished, or we lose.
>
>   The situation is very near to being that simple. The HURD (or its
>   monolithic alternative) must be completed.
>
>Linux is free software, just like the Hurd, or kFreeBSD.  Quite a
>drastic thing to say that we have lost when we are winning; although slowly.
>
>But more important battles are upon us, most notably encumbered
>devices, software patents (oh may there be a year when they don't crop
>up), or right now UEFI that will stop you from running any free
>kernel, or boot loader unless it has been signed by your king.
>
>I know where I'll do my battles, and it isn't with the Hurd; I have a
>free operating system running today... But Tomorrow I might not have a
>computer that allows me to install it.  Where will you do your battle?