Frank Cox wrote:
On Sun, 28 Oct 2007 19:06:21 +0000
Chris Jones <jonesc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Are you saying the driver is illegal full stop ?
It may be.
If so in what way ?
It adds a binary blob to the kernel.
I just found a reference that explains this rather well.
QUOTE:
The majority of core Linux contributors believe (based on legal advice) that
it's impossible to produce a loadable Linux kernel module without it being a
derivative of the kernel code to some extent, and therefore having to fall
under the GPL due to the GPL's restrictions on derivative works. It's not a
situation that's ever been tested in court, and clearly not everyone agrees -
however, it's plausible enough that there's basically no chance of code being
added to the core kernel for no purpose other than facilitating a set of
non-GPLed kernel modules.
END OF QUOTE
You can find this (and further discussion) here:
http://blogs.sun.com/ahl/entry/dtrace_knockoffs
Nothing you say involves legal problems. They are just rules kernel
people like you to use. But there is no rule that says I can't compile
the kernel myself. So it all sounds silly to me.
--
Karl F. Larsen, AKA K5DI
Linux User
#450462 http://counter.li.org.
