Off-topic, but I feel this is important, since Apple contributed to gcc, and
it is licensed under GPLv3 now.
In particular, this was inspired by this thread on the gcc mailing lists:
http://gcc.gnu.org/ml/gcc/2008-02/msg00520.html
Notice that I CCed an Apple-internal email address extracted from this
thread
in an attempt to get attention from someone at Apple.
If you are wondering what the issue is here, it is related to Apple, GPLv3,
and the iPhone.
It started back when by coincidence the GPLv3 and the iPhone was released on
the same day, and got worse with the 3G iPhone. Here is some links:
http://www.fsf.org/iphone-gplv3
http://www.fsf.org/news/iphone-is-incompatible-with-free-software
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/why-free-software-and-apples-iphone-dont-mix
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/5-reasons-to-avoid-iphone-3g
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/apple-challenge
IMO, there are no easy fixes unfortunately because I feel this issue is as
philosophical as it is technical.
I still hope it can be solved, maybe by a meeting between FSF and Apple.
And no, I can't think of any cases where Apple is actually violating the
GPLv3,
but it is clearly causing trouble for Apple.
BTW, the GPLv2 has none of the clauses that cause the trouble Apple is
facing with the GPLv3 and the iPhone, so it is OK.
Yuhong Bao
