[fab] [Fwd: Free software and Fedora: Dissected]

Jason L Tibbitts III tibbs at math.uh.edu
Fri Aug 4 15:08:53 UTC 2006


>>>>> "TC" == Tom Callaway <Tom> writes:

TC> I was asked to audit Fedora Core to ensure that everything in
TC> Fedora Core had a Free Software Foundation compatible and approved
TC> "Free license".

Sorry, I think I was added to this list after the start of this
thread.

>> So are anonymous modifications permitted?  It would seem to be
>> overly restrictive otherwise.

TC> Probably not, but this is not terribly unusual. See the Linux
TC> kernel.

I don't see how that applies.  Yes, I must identify myself in order
for my changes to be accepted into Linus's tree (and meet various
coding standards and such), but my freedom is not restricted because
I'm still allowed to anonymously modify and redistribute as long as I
comply with the GPL.  Under this license I am not, or so it seems.

Or, to put it another way, a license would definitely not be
considered free if it restricted modifications to those upholding a
certain coding standard, yet the Linux kernel requires adherence to
standards for acceptance into the main tree and is not any less free
because ot it.

 - J<




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