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this post was submitted on 16 Sep 2025
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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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The intent of the BSD licences is to allow you to do what you want without reciprocating though. It's not an accident, it's explicitly stated. It is, in fact, your right. You profiting from the work of others is an intended result.
I prefer GPL myself for this reason. But you can't blame companies for obeying the terms of the licence.
But that is what he was actually saying. His comment was he would rather see it as gpl because mit effectively allows the hard work to be stolen like what we saw with apple and bsd. Hes not blaming apple he is just saying he would not have issue if it was gpl instead of mit. Again its like you have to look at the whole message and context for meaning rather than the strict definition of the one line.
It can't be any sort of "theft" if you leave it on the curb with a sign saying "Free" next to it.
ugh. I feel like you did not read my reply. Im saying his use of the word theft should not be taken literally given the context of his statement. he was not looking to say apple stole code he was looking to say use gpl because otherwise corps get code and don't contribute back.
It's you who says it's not a literal use. But I'm protesting even a figurative use since there is NO way the act is THEFT. I didn't steal, in any sense, something that is given to me for free.
It's not like improper use of "steal" is unheard of, I see all the time people use "I'm gonna steal that" and similar even when it applies to things openly given for free. And considering that it's quite clear that the MIT allows others to take without sharing back (it's the main difference with GPL) I'm quite sure the commenter was aware that it wasn't really theft, yet chose that word probably with the intention to insult the practice, rather than as a fair descriptor.
So yes, you're right, it isn't theft... but I don't think that was the point of the comment.
I don't think you understand what the word figurative means.