[clug] What can't be distributed with Linux?

[Chris Smart]

On Thu, 2007-03-22 at 11:34 +1100, Alex Satrapa wrote:
> Actually, it gets easier and easier.
> 
> Decision tree as follows:
> 
> Is the software distributed under a GPL2+ Licence?
>    yes) you can package it with your distribution
>    no) you shouldn't package it with your distribution
As far as I am aware, that's not correct :)

User space applications can be under any license, so long as that
application does not violate the license of another application on the
distributed media, does not have a restriction within its license
prohibiting distribution, and does not break the law.

So if acroread has a restriction in its license that stops you from
distributing it then you can't distribute it. But if it doesn't then you
can, no matter the license.

If I include mysql under GPL license and another application that uses
mysql code, it has to be under the GPL also or I can't distribute it.

The Linux kernel is the same. If I am distributing the Linux kernel then
anything that is a derived work of the kernel, including drivers, must
be under the GPL also.

> 
> ... couldn't be easier.
If what you suggest above were true, then yes ;)

-c