Giving end users control of their own computers is not a stated goal of GPL 2. But it is. Let's quote another paragraph of the preamble too, shall we? if yo

Giving end users control of their own computers is not a stated goal of GPL 2. But it is. Let's quote another paragraph of the preamble too, shall we? if you distribute copies of such a program, whether gratis or for a fee, you must give the recipients all the rights that you have. This surely says, in spirit, that if you as manufacturer have the right to deploy this software on certain hardware, that the recipient must have the same rights? Linus's intention of "I give you software to do whatever you want with, and if you make improvements you have to give them back" This, on the other hand, is not a stated goal of GPLv2. Your obligation, as a software distributor, is only downstream (your recipients/customers), not upstream (your suppliers).