Proprietary loadable kernel modules

Proprietary loadable kernel modules

Posted Mar 25, 2011 0:42 UTC (Fri) by rgmoore (subscriber, #75)
In reply to: Proprietary loadable kernel modules by vonbrand
Parent article: Has Bionic stepped over the GPL line?

The stated intent of the kernel hackers (or anyone in a similar position) has a great deal of effect when they say that something is permitted. If Linus says "you're in the clear as long as you don't use anything within #define GPL", then he can be legally barred from turning around and suing somebody when they take him seriously. Even without a formal statement along those lines, officially designating some symbols as GPL only implies that the rest of the symbols may be used by non-GPL modules.

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