4 ms·

Google manages to do that just fine.

• wongarsu 11y ago
  But google doesn't sell software. Most of their sofware is never distributed outside google (apart from the parts they strategically open-source), so the GPL can't force them to open up their source code.
  • MichaelGG 11y ago
    It's also quite probable that a lot of Google's critical software might not even be covered under GPL. For Linux, unless they're modifying the kernel code, it wouldn't really matter right?
    • deelowe 11y ago
      It doesn't matter either way. Google doesn't distribute their software (except for android, chrome, etc... which does have sources available).
      • MichaelGG 11y ago
        ... Which is exactly what the parent said. I'm saying that even if they DID distribute, it still wouldn't matter, as most likely, Google's main-value stuff isn't a modification to GPL software...
        • deelowe 11y ago
          Depends on how you define "main value stuff." One of Google's largest engineering teams is infrastructure working on core services, the Kernel, OS, drivers, hardware etc..
  • wereHamster 11y ago
    Neither is the oil industry.
    • wongarsu 11y ago
      But this company is not the one doing the drilling or running the software. They sell hardware and software to the oil industry
    • deelowe 11y ago
      The whole industry? There's quite a few companies that sell hardware and software. This company being one of them.