Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S261160AbUKETDj (ORCPT ); Fri, 5 Nov 2004 14:03:39 -0500 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S261161AbUKETDj (ORCPT ); Fri, 5 Nov 2004 14:03:39 -0500 Received: from mail1.webmaster.com ([216.152.64.168]:6668 "EHLO mail1.webmaster.com") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S261160AbUKETDh (ORCPT ); Fri, 5 Nov 2004 14:03:37 -0500 From: "David Schwartz" To: , , Subject: RE: Possible GPL infringement in Broadcom-based routers Date: Fri, 5 Nov 2004 11:03:22 -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: <200411061040.iA6AeZp03452@freya.yggdrasil.com> X-Authenticated-Sender: joelkatz@webmaster.com X-Spam-Processed: mail1.webmaster.com, Fri, 05 Nov 2004 10:39:55 -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, Fri, 05 Nov 2004 10:39:56 -0800 Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Content-Length: 1515 Lines: 34 > I think you're missing the idea that that such drivers are > _contributory_ infringement to the direct infringement that occurs when > the user loads the module. Except that loading the module is not infringement. The GPL does not restrict use of GPL'd code in any way. > In other words, even for a driver that has > not a byte of code derived from the kernel, if all its uses involve it > being loaded into a GPL'ed kernel to form an infringing derivative > work in RAM by the user committing direct copyright infringement against > numerous GPL'ed kernel components, then it fails the test of having > a substantial non-infringing use, as established in the Betamax decision, > and distributing it is contributory infringement of those GPL'ed > components of the kernel. In order for there to be an "infringing derivative work", some clause of the GPL would have to be infringed. There exists no clause in the GPL that restricts the *creation* of derivative works that are not distributed. If your argument were correct, then no non-GPL'd software could *ever* be distributed for Linux. You see, loading that software would create an "infringing derivative work" in the memory of the computer running it, combining the Linux kernel with the software. 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/