On March 22, 2007 08:31 am, Paulo Marques wrote:
> Just to clarify, because I actually follow LKML and read Linus posts on
> the subject, that is not exactly Linus view.
>
> Linus view is that the fact the something is a module is not "per se" an
> indication that it is a derivative work. And that is the concept of the
> GPL: derivative work.
>
> NVidia can make a case by arguing that their closed source driver
> supports both Windows and Linux and therefore can not be considered a
> derivative work from the Linux kernel.
>
> Other modules are probably in a deeper gray area. There are no sharp
> bounds. Being a module is an "indication" that it _might_ be a
> derivative but it is not clear cut.
>
> So you basically can not say "closed source modules are ok" nor "closed
> source modules are always illegal". It is not a matter of "deprecation"
> of closed source modules. It really boils down to the particulars of the
> module: what it does and how it does it...
>
> And as you say, there have been huge discussions on the subject on LKML,
> and even worse, they are recurrent. There is one major flame-fest about
> once a year :)
Is this debate only for loaded modules? (i.e. modules not compiled into the
kernel but loaded with insmod or modprobe)?
And modules compiled directly into the kernel can't be closed source?
-Curtis.
>
> --
> Paulo Marques
> Software Development Department - Grupo PIE, S.A.
> Phone: +351 252 290600, Fax: +351 252 290601
> Web: www.grupopie.com
>
> "Don't hit a man when he's down -- kick him; it's easier."
>
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