No, you can't take open source code back

Re:No, you can't take open source code back by belorn on Thursday February 14, 2019 @10:11AM (#19162387)

There is in general two main methods for revoking a license:

1), US copyright law (17 U.S. Code § 203), which allow the author to terminate a granted license after about 35-40 years. not extremely relevant in software and the people on the linux kernel mailing list will need to wait an other 7 or so more years before it can become relevant in the kernel.

2) License and legal interpretation. The author can change their interpretation of the license and how it interacts with copyright law. This is much more relevant within the context of the linux kernel since there are proprietary kernel modules that the Linux Foundation members own. Nothing prevents an author to de-facto revoke a implicit/passive/unwritten permission for such combinations.

Beside those two there really isn't any realistic method of revoking a license once legally released under an open license.

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Re:No, you can't take open source code back by apostacy on Thursday February 14, 2019 @11:37AM (#19163210)

I have seen some of my favorite free software disappeared by its creator when they decide they want to sell it.

Synergy comes to mind, but at least they are making a minimal effort to honor the GPL. Also AxCrypt. I don't think that creators are obligated to continue distribution, but it still bothers me when that happens, especially if they benefited from the fruits of the community.

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