Theo de Raadt On Relicensing BSD Code

iBSD writes "KernelTrap has an interesting article in which Theo de Raadt discusses the legal implications of the recent relicensing of OpenBSD's BSD-licensed Atheros driver under the GPL. De Raadt says, 'it has been like pulling teeth since (most) Linux wireless guys and the SFLC do not wish to admit fault. I think that the Linux wireless guys should really think hard about this problem, how they look, and the legal risks they place upon the future of their source code bodies.' He stressed that the theory that BSD code can simply be relicensed to the GPL without making significant changes to the code is false, adding, 'in their zeal to get the code under their own license, some of these Linux wireless developers have broken copyright law repeatedly. But to even get to the point where they broke copyright law, they had to bypass a whole series of ethical considerations too.'"

Re:didn't openbsd do the same thing in reverse?

[Anonymous Coward]

I think so.

Personally, I want to stick Theo and RMS in a cage and see who lasts longest...

This is absolute bull!

[Anonymous Coward]

Information is meant to be free! Copyrights are for evil corporations! I should be able to get whatever I want and do whatever I want to it! Microsoft is the devil and surely behind this somehow! OSS FTW!!!!!

Did I forget anything?

As I recall a rapid summary goes like this

[Realistic_Dragon]

1) The BSD licensed guys are pissed because someone took some code and locked them out of it, despite being rabidly pro the freedom to do exactly this.

2) The Linux guys are technically in the right but still taking dual licensed GPL/BSD code and locking it up is a pretty shitty thing to do.

3) Hot heads on both sides have managed to turn what should have been a quiet chat about a moderate, considered approach and with the magic described most eloquently as the PA Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory ensured that relations remain as hostile as possible.

The only conclusion can be that the idiots on both sides (Theo included) actually work for Microsoft and are puppets dancing to the compelling dark tunes of their evil and cunning masters.

The end.

Re:didn't openbsd do the same thing in reverse?

[Hal_Porter]

Personally, I want to stick Theo and RMS in a cage and see who lasts longest...

Interesting

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theo_de_Raadt [wikipedia.org]
vs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Stallman [wikipedia.org]

Theo is younger (39 vs 54) and fitter than Stallman. More aggressive too - Stallman seems like a fat old hippy who'd go into the cage expecting to talk his way out of it. Theo's got a nasty streak and he'd instinctively grasp the rule that two men enter, one man leaves. Life's always been like that for Theo it's just that up to now the violence has been sublimated. Finally, even though he hides it well, the Winged Monkeys of proprietary software would help Theo if things got tough, especially against Stallman.

Re:Compatibility

[Kelson]

On a more serious note, IIRC the BSD-style licenses have a section that says that copyright notices have to be kept in tact.

Sadly, I think tact is in entirely too short supply with this dispute.

Re:didn't openbsd do the same thing in reverse?

[Anonymous Coward]

However, RMS does not take showers. That alone should be enough to finish Theo off.

Re:A couple more links:

[Anonymous Coward]

That's a good one; a group with no money sues another group with no money. Finally! A legal case that won't involve money!

Your honor we motion that defendents, if found guilty, should have to apologize and donate 20,000 lines of code to BSD.

Re:A couple more links:

[jmac1492]

Right now the wireless linux developers -- aided by an entire team of evidently unskilled lawyers -- are at step 5, and we don't know what will happen next.

But step 7 is profit.

Re:didn't openbsd do the same thing in reverse?

[ArwynH]

Here's the fact: 1) a linux developer proposed violating the distribution license on some code and commit an act of copyright infringment.

There, fixed that for you.

NetCraft confirms it

[Anonymous Coward]

SquigBSD is dead.