this post was submitted on 17 Dec 2021
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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I'm not aware of a single instance of government enforcement of copyleft (although there's been threats of legal actions), and copyleft certainly does not prevent commercial use at all.
The only rule of the license is "don't change the license", i.e. let everyone enjoy the same rights you did. If you find that authoritarian, i don't know what to say.
I agree in principle (if we abolish all other property with it :)) but as an isolated measure it would not be efficient. Hardware manufacturers would still write crappy Windows drivers instead of releasing their hardware data sheets unless they're compelled by law, and what good does it do us to share compiled binaries if we can't access the source code? In fact, the situation may even be worse because without the threat of copyleft enforcement shady corporations may in fact just keep violating copyleft.
It all depends on the specifics, but removing intellectual property without abolishing capitalism is in my view insignificant.