Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S262520AbUKEAAf (ORCPT ); Thu, 4 Nov 2004 19:00:35 -0500 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S262517AbUKDX7X (ORCPT ); Thu, 4 Nov 2004 18:59:23 -0500 Received: from mail1.webmaster.com ([216.152.64.168]:530 "EHLO mail1.webmaster.com") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S262514AbUKDX6I (ORCPT ); Thu, 4 Nov 2004 18:58:08 -0500 From: "David Schwartz" To: Subject: RE: Possible GPL infringement in Broadcom-based routers Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2004 15:57:33 -0800 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.6604 (9.0.2911.0) Importance: Normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 In-Reply-To: <418ABC5F.6060200@enix.org> X-Authenticated-Sender: joelkatz@webmaster.com X-Spam-Processed: mail1.webmaster.com, Thu, 04 Nov 2004 15:34:05 -0800 (not processed: message from trusted or authenticated source) X-MDRemoteIP: 206.171.168.138 X-Return-Path: davids@webmaster.com X-MDaemon-Deliver-To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Reply-To: davids@webmaster.com X-MDAV-Processed: mail1.webmaster.com, Thu, 04 Nov 2004 15:34:08 -0800 Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Content-Length: 1138 Lines: 26 > Can Broadcom and the vendors "escape" the obligations of the GPL by > shipping those proprietary drivers as modules, or are they violating the > GPL plain and simple by removing the related source code (and showing > irrelevant code to show "proof of good will") ? That is a contentious issue that has been debated on this group far too much. In the United States, at least, the answer comes down to the complex legal question of whether the module is a "derived work" of the Linux kernel and whether the kernel as shipped with those modules is a "mere aggregation". You can google those terms to form your own opinions. IMO, discussing and debating these type of borderline GPL violations on the LKML is not a good idea. Save bringing up GPL violations on the LKML for cases where the violation is really obvious and all measures short of public shaming have already been tried. DS - 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/