Comment by Hamuko
9 days ago
Open source is not communism. Communism would entail that we collectively own Linux, which we don't. It's private property, and if we want to use the code, we need to abide by its licensing terms. Licensing terms that are built upon the existence of copyright, a concept that allows for private ownership of intellectual property.
The licensing terms exist as a patch on copyright. If copyright law were fixed, we wouldn't need those terms at all.
> If copyright law were fixed, we wouldn't need those terms at all.
Why do you think so?
Because > 'The licensing terms exist as a patch on copyright.'
Upstreaming a patch implies you no longer need to maintain it.
Law doesn't quite work the same as software, but in this case the metaphor holds.