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Re: [PATCH] make LSM register functions GPLonly exports

From:  Christoph Hellwig <hch@infradead.org>
To:  Crispin Cowan <crispin@wirex.com>
Subject:  Re: [PATCH] make LSM register functions GPLonly exports
Date:  Thu, 17 Oct 2002 17:54:03 +0100
Cc:  Greg KH <greg@kroah.com>, torvalds@transmeta.com, linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org

On Thu, Oct 17, 2002 at 09:51:06AM -0700, Crispin Cowan wrote:
> My argument against the intent of this change is that no, I do not think 
> we should restrict LSM modules to be GPL-only. LSM is an API for loading 
> externally developed packages of software, similar to syscalls. There is 
> benefit in permitting proprietary modules (you get additional modules 
> that you would not get otherwise) just as there is benefit in permitting 
> proprietary applications (you get Oracle, DB2, and WordPerfect).

My arguement is that I want this flag as a hint for authors of
propritary security modules that I'm going to sue them if they
use hook called from code I have copyright on.  This includes such
central parts as vfs_read/vfs_write.

> no legal standing what so ever. If kernel module interfaces are held by 
> a court to be linking, then export symbols are redundant. If kernel 
> module interfaces are held by a court to be an interface, then the 
> export symbols are just wrong.

It's a very clear hint, and very usefull as such.

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