The proposed digital rights management (DRM) provisions
in the new GNU General Public License (GPLv3) have been given the
thumbs-down by Linux kernel developer Linus Torvalds.
GPL v3 is expected to be adopted by the open source community
over the next 12 months, with the licence used to distribute
versions of the Linux operating system and other open-source
software.
However, Torvalds, who supervises the development of the Linux
kernel, a key component of the Linux OS, said he did not expect the
kernel to adopt the licence, as it was too “burdensome” with the
DRM feature.
It is believed the DRM provisions are seen by Torvalds as a
possible block on wider commercial adoption of Linux.
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is promoting the GPLv3, and
it will now have to deal with Torvald’s objections if it is see the
GPL updated in the way it wants.
The GPL v3 DRM feature prevents GPL-licensed software from being
used in DRM copy-protection software, which is described as
"digital restrictions management" software by the FSF.