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The Linux kernel and most GNU software are licensed under the [[GNU General Public License]]. The GPL requires that all distributed source code modifications and derived works also be licensed under the GPL, and is sometimes referred to as a "share and share-alike" or "[[copyleft]]" license. In 1997, Linus Torvalds stated, "Making Linux GPL'd was definitely the best thing I ever did."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kde.sw.com.sg/food/linus.html|title=Linus Torvalds interview|accessdate=2006-05-08}}</ref> Other software may use other licenses; many libraries use the [[GNU Lesser General Public License]] (LGPL), a more permissive variant of the GPL, and the [[X Window System]] uses the [[MIT License]].
In the United States, the name ''Linux'' is a [[trademark]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=tm&qt=rno&reel=&frame=&sno=&rno=1916230|title=U.S. Reg No: 1916230|accessdate=2006-04-01}}</ref> registered to Linus Torvalds. Initially, nobody registered it, but on [[August 15]], [[1994]], [[William R. Della Croce, Jr.]] filed for the trademark ''Linux'', and then demanded royalties from Linux distributors. In 1996, Torvalds and some affected organizations sued to have the trademark assigned to Torvalds, and in 1997 the case was settled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/9065|title=Linux Journal, 2006-06-31, Linux Timeline}}</ref> The licensing of the trademark is now handled by the [[Linux Mark Institute]]. Torvalds has stated that he only trademarked the name to prevent someone else from using it, but was bound in 2005 by [[United States trademark law]] to take active measures to enforce the trademark. As a result, the LMI sent out a number of letters to distribution vendors requesting that a fee be paid for the use of the name, and a number of companies have complied.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/09/05/36OPopenent_1.html|title=Linus gets tough on Linux trademark|accessdte=20060-09-04}}</ref>▼
▲Initially, nobody registered it, but on August 15, 1994, William R. Della Croce, Jr. filed for the trademark ''Linux'', and then demanded royalties from Linux distributors. In 1996, Torvalds and some affected organizations sued to have the trademark assigned to Torvalds, and in 1997 the case was settled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/9065|title=Linux Journal, 2006-06-31, Linux Timeline}}</ref> The licensing of the trademark is now handled by the [[Linux Mark Institute]]. Torvalds has stated that he only trademarked the name to prevent someone else from using it, but was bound in 2005 by [[United States trademark law]] to take active measures to enforce the trademark. As a result, the LMI sent out a number of letters to distribution vendors requesting that a fee be paid for the use of the name, and a number of companies have complied.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/09/05/36OPopenent_1.html|title=Linus gets tough on Linux trademark|accessdte=20060-09-04}}</ref>
==Pronounciation==
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