x.com/_3l3ktr4_/status/2108457445764849680
1 correction found
Android relies on Linux, which is GPL and forces all subsequent code that relies on
The GPL does not automatically require all software that relies on or runs on Linux to be open-sourced. Android’s own documentation says most Android code is licensed under Apache 2.0, while only Linux kernel patches are under GPLv2.
Full reasoning
This claim overstates what the GNU GPL requires.
The GPL's copyleft obligations apply to derivative works and linked combinations of GPL-covered code, not to every piece of software that merely runs on, is ported to, or otherwise relies on Linux. The Free Software Foundation's GPL FAQ explicitly answers the closely related question "If I port my program to GNU/Linux, does that mean I have to release it as free software under the GPL?" with: "In general, the answer is no—this is not a legal requirement."
Android's own licensing documentation also contradicts the claim. Google states that "the majority of the Android software is licensed with Apache 2.0" and gives the Linux kernel as a specific exception: "the Linux kernel patches are under the GPLv2 license". The same page further says that for userspace (non-kernel) software, Android prefers Apache 2.0 and similar permissive licenses. If Linux's GPL automatically forced all subsequent Android code to be open-sourced under GPL, Android would not predominantly use Apache 2.0 for its non-kernel code.
So the accurate version is narrower: Linux's GPL can require source release for kernel modifications and certain derivative works, but it does not automatically force all later software that "relies on" Linux to be GPL/open source.
2 sources
- Licenses - Android Open Source Project
The preferred license for the Android Open Source Project is the Apache Software License, 2.0, and the majority of the Android software is licensed with Apache 2.0. ... For example, the Linux kernel patches are under the GPLv2 license with system exceptions.
- Frequently Asked Questions about the GNU Licenses - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
If I port my program to GNU/Linux, does that mean I have to release it as free software under the GPL or some other free software license? In general, the answer is no—this is not a legal requirement. In specific, the answer depends on which libraries you want to use and what their licenses are.