Post Syndicated from original https://lwn.net/Articles/882397/rss

The netfilter project,
which works on packet-filtering for the Linux kernel, has announced that it
has reached a settlement
(English
translation) with Patrick McHardy that is “legally
binding and it governs any legal enforcement
activities” on netfilter programs and libraries as well as the
kernel itself. McHardy has been employing
questionable practices in doing GPL enforcement in Germany over the
last six years or more. The practice has been called “copyright trolling” by some and is
part of what led to the creation of The Principles of Community-Oriented GPL Enforcement.

This settlement establishes that any decision-making around
netfilter-related enforcement activities should be based on a majority
vote. Thus, each active coreteam member
at the time of the
enforcement request holds one right to vote. This settlement covers
past and new enforcement, as well as the enforcement of contractual
penalties related to past declarations to cease-and-desist.