Re: anti-Tivoisation (was: In what version did implicit node pointers debut?)

On 1/18/26 07:47, Ingo Schwarze wrote:
> [...]
>
> We are unwilling to update to a newer version.  If i recall correctly,
> the main reason is licensing, because newer TexInfo is no longer
> available under the slightly more free GPLv2 and now comes with the
> even more encumbered GPLv3.
>
> [...]

The purpose of the GPL is to protect the freedoms of the users, 
particularly against intermediate parties who sit between the original 
developers and the users.  The GPLv3 anti-Tivoisation provisions are 
intended in that light, because the four freedoms are useless if you 
cannot actually run your own version on your hardware.

BSD licensing (as I understand the history) is entirely legitimate for 
its original purpose:  the Regents of the University of California 
decided that, since everyone pays taxes and BSD was funded using tax 
dollars, everyone had already paid for a license to BSD.

However, the GNU system was initially developed on a volunteer basis by 
users who wanted a Free system.  Putting conditions that require all 
intermediaries to pass along the freedoms they receive is equally 
legitimate, as it assures that the system can actually serve its purpose 
of providing software freedom to users.

Tivo found a way to cheat on that deal, using a nonfree component (the 
boot firmware) to prevent users from exercising the freedoms that they 
are supposed to have with the Linux kernel.  The GPLv3 anti-Tivoisation 
provisions are the community's response to that cheating.


-- Jacob