I wondered the same thing: if say the Linux kernel was to be re-licensed, how long would it take to get a hold of all the developers that ever contributed something to it? I'm sure some of them have by now passed away, so they'd have to get a hold of their next of kin?
This came up back when the GPLv3 was first being discussed. At the time, as best as I can recall, the consensus was that it would be effectively impossible. I'm pretty sure that it is, indeed, the case that some of the copyright holders have passed away, and I believe there are some that nobody knows how to contact, etc.
All this is, IIRC, a separate issue aside from Linus not wanting to re-license anyway.
If anyone is really especially interested in this particular point, dig around in the /. archives or maybe Groklaw from that era. That and the lkml, of course. There was a decent amount of discussion and gnashing of teeth over this whole issue back then.
This came up back when the GPLv3 was first being discussed. At the time, as best as I can recall, the consensus was that it would be effectively impossible. I'm pretty sure that it is, indeed, the case that some of the copyright holders have passed away, and I believe there are some that nobody knows how to contact, etc.
All this is, IIRC, a separate issue aside from Linus not wanting to re-license anyway.
If anyone is really especially interested in this particular point, dig around in the /. archives or maybe Groklaw from that era. That and the lkml, of course. There was a decent amount of discussion and gnashing of teeth over this whole issue back then.