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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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RHEL no longer open source (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Seems like IBM is going to make RHEL closed source. What's everyone's opinion about the move? I feel RHEL is now the evil villain distro of the community.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I see so many confused here. Unsurprising considering so many have no idea what the GPL is, what Free Software is, why it's different, very different from "Open Source" software due to copyleft.

Everyone should go read the GPL, read version 2 as it reads very well, version 3 just beefs up version 2 to handle certain situations but its a bit less of a nicer read.

Learn what Free Software is: https://www.fsf.org/about/what-is-free-software

And listen to a few of Richard Stallmans speeches which he has to continue giving because of this "Open Source" thing that confused everything. Note that the FSF, Richard Stallman and the GPL have nothing to do with Open Source at all. It is the Open Source Initiative that accepts the GPL as a "Open Source" license but not all Open SOurce licenses are Free Software licenses.

Below is a link to the Software Freedom Conservancy who have been talking to Redhat / IBM for years about this very issue before RH/IBM turned tail and stabbed everyone in the back:

https://sfconservancy.org/blog/2023/jun/23/rhel-gpl-analysis/

Redhat dont have a legal leg to stand on however it will cost you to prove it. You should win, but it will cost you. I am happy to purge any RH software from my systems at work, I was doing that anyway due to what happened to Centos.

Redhat have become the new SCO in essence.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

fuck this, man. i hope someone sues their ass and wins; though i'm not sure how or even if it's possible. the GPL does have this:

You may not impose any further restrictions on the exercise of the rights granted or affirmed under this License. For example, you may not impose a license fee, royalty, or other charge for exercise of rights granted under this License.

but i don't know if legally speaking, that really extends to them selectively choosing to terminate relationships with customers who exercise their GPL rights. what's certain is that it's an incredible asshole move and violates the spirit of the GPL and FOSS in general.

i have to admit i don't always agree with the stallman position on things, but shit like this really makes me see the value of copyleft licenses and the arguments of the hardcore free software camp. software freedom is so easily lost :(

stallman was right.