But GPL programs work on proprietary-ware... GPL exception clause..

Posted Mar 3, 2004 14:17 UTC (Wed) by Duncan (guest, #6647) [Link]

Yes, you have it basically right.

Note that your example of Nvidia closed source modules with a GPLed
XServer fall a bit close to something some distribs, including Mandrake (my
current distrib) do currently. Mandrake only distributes the NVidia package
with its "value added" sets, NOT the "download edition". They do, however,
ship a separate CD with all the commercial packages, and offer the package
on Mandrake club for download as well. I'm not sure what they do with the
single DVDROM edition they offer, tho that could get sticky, but not based
on XFree86 (old licensed edition), but on the GPL licensed stuff like the
kernel.

I do know that one of the potential XFree alternatives, this one entitled "Y",
was discussed on /. some time ago, before the current XFree license fiasco. (I
found the /. article while googling for X alternatives for an earlier reply.)
One of the things pointed out there was that because Y was specifically GPL
licensed, it would have serious problems with the NVidias and etc. of the
world.

The NVidia kernel module is status gray, but for Linus' specific policy stating
that modules that do not use symbols specifically marked as GPL-Only
exported aren't violating, and further because Nvidia, as many others, has
chosen to incorporate an open "glue" layer between the proprietary object and
the GPL code it indirectly uses. Still, the GPL-EXPORT status for symbols
is there specifically because some kernel developers don't take the liberal
position Linus has, and it has been said that NVidia and others have only
avoided legal action due to deference to Linus, and the enormous amount of
respect he has within the community. Were Linus to be hit by a bus or
something, Linux would no-doubt continue, but certain proprietary module
providers would likely be forced to either open-source or quit providing them
at all.

Duncan