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In this hypothetical situation are Canonical also replacing the GPL Linux kernel? If they’re not replacing the Kernel, how does anything change for the end user?

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Linux is GPLv2, there is no tivoization protection. In fact most tivoized devices run Linux.

The Software Freedom Conservancy disagrees, and they are the main enforcers of the GPL these days, especially for Linux.

https://sfconservancy.org/blog/2021/mar/25/install-gplv2/ https://sfconservancy.org/blog/2021/jul/23/tivoization-and-t... https://events19.linuxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017...

Basically every IOT/router/phone/whatever which is advanced enough runs Linux and almost every one of them enforces firmware signing. They'd have to fight the whole world at this point.

They'll be doing that I expect, they are starting by making it possible for anyone to sue over GPL compliance, not just the authors.

https://sfconservancy.org/copyleft-compliance/vizio.html

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