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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Thoughts on RHEL going closed source ? (mander.xyz)

submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I’m curious about what you think on how it will affect the Linux community and distros (especially RHEL based distros like Fedora or Rocky).

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

This was my initial thought as well, but I imagine that would violate the terms of their subscription and Red Hat could just revoke their access going forward.

[–] priapus 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

I doubt it would legal to make that against the terms. It GPL code, Oracle is allowed to access it as they please.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Very true for the GPL code, but Red Hat adds code that isn’t GPL to the distro. So your downstream distros would have to cherry pick that code out.

[–] priapus 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

If the code they're adding isn't protected by GPL they no have obligation to release it at all, and with these changes they probably won't.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

They could still revoke access. The subscription probably says something like "we can revoke access for any reason". Most subscriptions do

[–] priapus 2 points 2 years ago

True, but what's stopping someone from uploading it anonymously? They have to share the code with customers, but that doesn't mean GPL doesn't apply to non-customers. Anyone working at these companies can download the source code and upload it online.