Re: GPL vs non-GPL device drivers

[Neil Horman <nhorman@tuxdriver.com>]

On Thu, Feb 15, 2007 at 10:25:12PM -0800, v j wrote:
> >It's written in black and white, in the license.
> 
> Please point me to where it says I cannot load proprietary modules in
> the Kernel.
> 
It doesn't, but EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL makes it quite clear what you can not do if
you are not a GPL module.

> > Apart from that,
> >Greg KH has made his opinion clear, and you have said you understand
> >and don't debate that he holds this opinion, and his code is what you
> >said you were linking to (the sysfs/class stuff), so why do you keep
> >saying that "it is not clear".
> 
> I know his opinion. I don't debate his opinion. It is his code. I
> choose not to use his code because of the license issue.
> 
Then choose not to use it and move on, rather than lamenting the fact that
your life is more difficult because of his decision

> >Do you think that, somehow, Linus' opinion trumps Greg KH's opinion on
> >his own code?
> 
> No, just that the trend is disturbing. If enough Kernel Developers
> choose to write their Software in a way that prevents others from
> using it freely, then that is troubling. Especially when these Kernel
> Developers are substituting existing interfaces in the Kernel with
> ones that are NEW and require specific licenses.
> 
Its disturbing to you, and you alone.  If you stopped using Linux today because
of this, no one would miss you.  If enough like-minded people did this, you
would all be using your business model, and th F/OSS community would continue on
its way.  You appear to think that the community relies on people who make
drivers in you're model, and thats simply not the case.

Neil

> vj.
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