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0 pointsjosephcsible3y ago0 comments

> there are often legal restrictions even on GPL code

The difference is that they don't restrict freedom, but rather the power to withhold freedom from others: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/freedom-or-power.en.html

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Dylan168073y ago· 2 in thread

No I mean like export and patent and anti-circumvention and author's rights. Things that restrict freedom.

josephcsibleOP3y ago

Can you give an example of GPL'd software that actually has such restrictions?

Dylan168073y ago

Cryptographic libraries might be okay right now but traditionally have had very widespread export controls. So, linux kernel and basically anything doing crypto. Anything with german authors has irrevocable control tied to that. If there's a GPL program that decrypts blurays it's likely a violation of the DMCA, not sure if one exists right now.

For patents, there's tons. x264 is an easy one.

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