What License Is the Linux Kernel Covered Under?
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The Linux Kernel is provided under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only (GPL-2.0), as provided in LICENSES/preferred/GPL-2.0, with an explicit syscall exception described in LICENSES/exceptions/Linux-syscall-note, as described in the COPYING file.

What is gplv2 license?

Among today’s more popular OSS licenses is the GNU (of the GNU Project) General Public License Version 2.0, commonly referred to as simply GPL v2. … Initially released in 1991, the GPL 2 is a copyleft license, meaning users must abide by some strict rules and requirements.

What is GPL 3 license?

GPL v3 License: The Basics

Like the GPL v2, GPL 3 is a strong copyleft license, meaning that any copy or modification of the original code must also be released under the GPL v3. In other words, you can take the GPL 3’d code, add to it or make major changes, then distribute your version.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.

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