Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S265965AbUFOU6J (ORCPT ); Tue, 15 Jun 2004 16:58:09 -0400 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S265963AbUFOU6J (ORCPT ); Tue, 15 Jun 2004 16:58:09 -0400 Received: from verein.lst.de ([212.34.189.10]:20677 "EHLO mail.lst.de") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S265965AbUFOU57 (ORCPT ); Tue, 15 Jun 2004 16:57:59 -0400 Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2004 22:57:53 +0200 From: Christoph Hellwig To: torvalds@osdl.org Cc: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Subject: more files with licenses that aren't GPL-compatible Message-ID: <20040615205753.GA24380@lst.de> Mail-Followup-To: Christoph Hellwig , torvalds@osdl.org, linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline User-Agent: Mutt/1.3.28i X-Spam-Score: -4.901 () BAYES_00 Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Content-Length: 1889 Lines: 41 While I don't want to jump into the usual Debian wankfest whether Linux as GPL'ed project can distribute hex-images of firmware at all there are a few firmware C headers files that have a license statement that aren't GPL-compatible at all, namely the keyspan firmware in drivers/usb/serial/keyspan*_fw.h with the following license text: ---------------------------- snip ---------------------------- The firmware contained herein as keyspan_mpr_fw.h is Copyright (C) 1999-2001 Keyspan, A division of InnoSys Incorporated ("Keyspan") as an unpublished work. This notice does not imply unrestricted or public access to the source code from which this firmware image is derived. Except as noted below this firmware image may not be reproduced, used, sold or transferred to any third party without Keyspan's prior written consent. All Rights Reserved. Permission is hereby granted for the distribution of this firmware image as part of a Linux or other Open Source operating system kernel in text or binary form as required. This firmware may not be modified and may only be used with Keyspan hardware. Distribution and/or Modification of the keyspan.c driver which includes this firmware, in whole or in part, requires the inclusion of this statement." ---------------------------- snip ---------------------------- which makes the kernel as whole unredistributable. A similar license was according to Greg also recently granted for drivers/usb/misc/emi62_fw_*.h which currently has even worse license statements in there. Does someone have good contacts to keyspan to get it under a more suitable license? - 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/