Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S272906AbTG3OO2 (ORCPT ); Wed, 30 Jul 2003 10:14:28 -0400 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S272904AbTG3OOG (ORCPT ); Wed, 30 Jul 2003 10:14:06 -0400 Received: from [12.40.51.195] ([12.40.51.195]:55329 "EHLO mailserver.virtusa.com") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S272906AbTG3ONt (ORCPT ); Wed, 30 Jul 2003 10:13:49 -0400 Message-ID: <1059574407.1759.26.camel@anuradha> From: Anuradha Ratnaweera To: LKML Subject: Contributing to the kernel while being employed Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 10:13:27 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Content-Length: 1788 Lines: 43 Slightly off-topic, but not completely ... (And this has got nothing to do with SCO issue. I don't like to waste time on nonexistent issues. ;-)) Shorter version: If I work for a commercial organization, how can I write a kernel module copyrighted and GPLed by myself? Now the longer version ... Before working for a commercial organization, one usually has to sign a contract which makes all the work done during the period of employment (including innovations, "hobby" coding done during "after hours") copyrighted by the employer. This introduces various problems when one wishes to do open source development, especially as a hobby. I am not talking about companies that do open source contributions as institutions (e.g., JFS, XFS, and numerous device drivers). But if one wants to do something as a hobby and host it somewhere (say sourceforge), or if one wants to send a substantial patch, then it is a different story. For example, if I do some changes and send a patch, and hopefully if it is accepted into the kernel, that code becomes GPL. But this doesn't prevent the employer from later questioning my right to do so, because the patch was never under my copyright according to the contract, and my applying of GPL (or whatever the lisence I used) is void. Obviously, there are many folks who work for commercial organizations, but still actively get involved in the kernel development. I am keen to know how they get around with copyright issues and contracts. Please don't use Linus as an example. ;-) Anuradha - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/