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Linux, in this context, means Linux the OS, not the kernel. And Linux as an OS would be pretty much crippled without the GNU tool(chain)s.
I think the Novell controversy will gain more attention as more and more free software projects switch to GPL v3 - which is design to prevent such patent deals that Novell entered with Microsoft. Which is a good thing imho - such patent deals runs contrary to the spirit of the GPL, though not the letter of v2.
And in concecuense we will have more GPLv3 and less usuability in Linux, less formats for the user, forget about ipod compatiblity, etc, etc, and in concecuense less users meaning the dead of the main GPL project, Linux, companies can fork BSD or give to it more support, I say change all the software you can to GPLv3 and see how its popularity falls, just like GNUSense distro w/o the ability to use mp3, something users demands.





Member since:
2005-08-07
What control does the FSF have over Linux? AFAIK none at all. OK, they can ban Novell from using new versions of GCC, binutils and the rest of the GNU userland tools. But they have absolutely no control over the kernel itself!
BTW - are they planning to change their license to explicitly disallow the use by Novell?