Tivoization

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tivoization (from TiVo , hard drives - set-top box ) describes the process that free software is used on devices on which only software signed by the manufacturer can run. According to the license , the user then has the right to obtain the source text and change it according to his ideas, but not the technical possibility of installing the software he has changed on the manufacturer's device. The device would refuse to work or at least stop working properly.

backgrounds

This problem was first observed with the TiVo hard disk recorder . The manufacturer delivered the device with an integrated GNU / Linux system and the aforementioned technical limitation. Although the manufacturer published the source code and thus fulfilled the conditions of the GNU General Public License (GPL), the source code is largely useless for the user, as he is technically prevented from installing a modified version on the hard disk recorder. The copyleft of the GPL version 2 does not exclude this possibility of technical restrictions; this case was not taken into account when defining the freedoms and goals associated with GPL software.

This fact was discussed controversially in the drafting phase of version 3 of the GPL. In this new version, the Free Software Foundation took precautions to prevent tivoization. Linux kernel initiator Linus Torvalds criticized this fact and took the position that tivoization should remain allowed.

swell

  1. ↑ Markus Beckedahl : The GPL3 and the tivoization of free software , netzpolitik.org, March 30, 2007
  2. ↑ Wikimedia Commons: Richard Stallman and Bruce Perens debate the GPL and tivoization
  3. ↑ Oliver Diedrich: GPLv3: First reactions to the third draft , heise open, March 29, 2007
  4. ↑ Oliver Diedrich: Dispute about the new GPL , heise open, October 3, 2006

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