Re: [GIT PULL] Documentation: Add a file explaining the requested Linux kernel license enforcement policy

From: Greg KH
Date: Sat Oct 21 2017 - 04:11:54 EST


On Fri, Oct 20, 2017 at 07:25:37PM +0100, Alan Cox wrote:
> On Thu, 19 Oct 2017 18:28:12 +0300
> Pavel Nikulin <nikulinpi@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > Hold!
> >
> > Greg, are you trying to put a new addendum to the terms of GPL v2?
>
> In many parts of the world if you make a promise about not enforcing a
> right to take some action (sometimes even an implied one) you cannot then
> take that action.
>
> So if you say "I won't sue you just because you've got a tiny GPL
> compliance issue", then in much of the world if you attempt to do so
> you'll find you can't.
>
> I do think it's poorly drafted because it doesn't contain any "unless you
> sue us" caveat so you won't find my name on it.

But it does have that caveat:
...with respect to any non-defensive assertion...

I discussed that in my FAQ blog post as well.

thanks,

greg k-h