Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S262679AbVDHD4L (ORCPT ); Thu, 7 Apr 2005 23:56:11 -0400 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S262681AbVDHD4K (ORCPT ); Thu, 7 Apr 2005 23:56:10 -0400 Received: from zxa8020.lanisdn-gte.net ([206.46.31.146]:34265 "EHLO links.magenta.com") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S262677AbVDHDzz (ORCPT ); Thu, 7 Apr 2005 23:55:55 -0400 Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 23:55:44 -0400 From: Raul Miller To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org, debian-legal@lists.debian.org, linux-acenic@sunsite.dk Subject: Re: non-free firmware in kernel modules, aggregation and unclear copyright notice. Message-ID: <20050407235544.Y32136@links.magenta.com> Reply-To: debian-legal@lists.debian.org References: <20050407161658.S32136@links.magenta.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline User-Agent: Mutt/1.2.5.1i In-Reply-To: ; from davids@webmaster.com on Thu, Apr 07, 2005 at 04:20:50PM -0700 Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Content-Length: 1317 Lines: 29 > > Also, "mere aggregation" is a term from the GPL. You can read what > > it says there yourself. But basically it's there so that people make > > a distinction between the program itself and other stuff that isn't > > the program. On Thu, Apr 07, 2005 at 04:20:50PM -0700, David Schwartz wrote: > It's also there because the GPL can only apply to either works > placed under it by their authors and works that are legally classified > as derivative. If you merely aggregate two works, there is no > derivation. The GPL is making clear that it's not trying to exceed the > scope of its authority (which is copyright law). The issue of whether or not the combined work is a derivative under copyright law is a copyright law issue. The GPL does concern itself with that issue, but not in the "mere aggregation" clause. The "mere aggregation" clause holds regardless of whether or not the combined work is a derivative under copyright law. [P.S. I've set the Reply-To: header on this message because I think this thread has drifted away from kernel issues.] -- Raul - 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/