[Info-vax] The real problem that needs solving to grow VMS

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 12/15/2022 2:39 PM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
> This one really confuses me.  What effect would declaring the GPL to be
> invalid actually have?

That is a question for a lawyer.

But as a non-lawyer I would say that if anyone got some
software under GPL license and GPL was declared invalid
then that person did not have a valid license for the
software and would have to stop using it or risk being
charged with copyright infringement.

And a lot of stuff are under GPL: Linux, MySQL, GCC,
WordPress etc..

>               Mind you, I have never thought the GPL would
> actually stand up in court if it faced a serious challenge.

25 years ago all businesses hated GPL.

Today most business love if not GPL then at least GPL software.

If it went to court and GPL lost in lower court, then I predict that
the GPL defenders could collect a billions dollars to help with the
appeal in an hour just by calling all the big IT companies.

Arne