linux-kernel - Re: Dual-Licensing Linux Kernel with GPL V2 and GPL V3

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Date:	Fri, 15 Jun 2007 09:19:38 -0400
From:	"Dmitry Torokhov" <dmitry.torokhov@...il.com>
To:	"Alan Cox" <alan@...rguk.ukuu.org.uk>
Cc:	"Bernd Paysan" <bernd.paysan@....de>,
	"Alexandre Oliva" <aoliva@...hat.com>,
	"Paulo Marques" <pmarques@...popie.com>,
	"Al Viro" <viro@....linux.org.uk>,
	"Krzysztof Halasa" <khc@...waw.pl>, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: Dual-Licensing Linux Kernel with GPL V2 and GPL V3

On 6/15/07, Alan Cox <alan@...rguk.ukuu.org.uk> wrote:
> O> GPL itself does not. But the author(s) may when they specify "any
> > later version", "dual GPL/BSD", etc. In this case (IMHO) distributor
> > in fact relicenses the code and may reduce license to sipmply BSD or
> > simply GPL, or "GPL v3 from now on". To "restore" license you would
> > need to go upstream and get the code from there.
>
> I don't see anything in the GPL that permits a redistributor to change
> the licence a piece of code is distributed under. If my code is GPL v2 or
> later you cannot take away the "or later" unless explicitly granted
> powers by the author to vary the licence.
>
> What you most certainly can do is modify it and decide your modifications
> are GPLv3 only thus creating a derived work which is GPLv3 only. However
> anyone receiving your modified version and reverting the modifications is
> back at v2 or later.
>

Yes, I agree. When I am saying "distributor" it is someone like RedHat
or TiVO who do modify the code, not merely use it in ints original
form.

-- 
Dmitry
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