Linux is distributed under which license?

Linux, specifically the Linux kernel, is distributed under the GPLv2 (GNU General Public License version 2). This is a copyleft license created by the Free Software Foundation, which means that derived works must also be distributed under the same license terms. The choice of GPLv2 ensures that any modifications or distributed versions of the Linux kernel remain open-source, sharing the same freedoms as the original.

The other licenses listed are not used for the Linux kernel:

• BSD and MIT are more permissive licenses that do not require derivatives to be open-source.
• Linux Foundation is not a software license; it is an organization that supports the development of Linux and related projects.
• GPLv3 is a later version of the GPL license, which includes additional terms and conditions (like improved protection against patent aggression), but Linux continues to use GPLv2 primarily due to the preference of Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, who has chosen not to transition the kernel to GPLv3.