Binary-only kernel modules may be banned [LWN.net]

Binary-only kernel modules may be banned

Posted Dec 14, 2006 1:48 UTC (Thu) by mgh (subscriber, #5696)
Parent article: Binary-only kernel modules may be banned

I thought that companies now get around this by creating a GPL (or other compat license) shim that tells the kernel that it is GPL code (which it is ) and then interfaces to the driver which is thus hidden.

Obviously this is not be in the spirit of free SW - but I don't think that this policy change is likely to have too much impact.

As Linux or more to the point GPL software grows in popularity there will be an increasing number of pressures and increasing number of counter pressures.

More relevant is the patent game - clearly this is a continuation of the "Western or Capitalist" way - I believe that many civisations could not understand ownership of land when they came in to contact with western culture - patent is ownership of ideas... We may hate it, but at the momemnt it is happening and until evolution at a state or jurisdiction level kills it off - it will be here to stay.

Too many rich vested interests for patents to be over turned. "Democracy" is a myth - no such thing; for the most part laws are bought though interest and exchanges of favours if not cash. Only a failure of patents at a profit level is likely to cause change. Maybe I am too cynical!

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Binary-only kernel modules may be banned

Posted Dec 14, 2006 6:14 UTC (Thu) by khim (subscriber, #9252) [Link]

Obviously this is not be in the spirit of free SW - but I don't think that this policy change is likely to have too much impact.

Oh, but it will. Intent is very important when you are talking about legal stuff. Since your "GPL shim plus binary blob" approach was explicitly blessed many years ago for at least one blob (AFS driver) it's more-or-less clear that such approach is not totally against the intent of kernel developers. If they claim: we're sick and tired of this crap and no longer like to see it - it's totally different thing. Especially if there are will be warnings and so on. Of course embedded companies like to use three or four years old kernels and there are they can play as they wish so it'll not stop them right away...