To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?M=E5ns_Rullg=E5rd?= <mans@mansr.com>
Subject: Re: ndiswrapper and GPL-only symbols redux
Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:25:22 +0000
Message-ID: <yw1x8x2843kt.fsf@mansr.com>
References: <1201641765.18773.35.camel@dv> <20080129225701.GS8767@does.not.exist>
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Adrian Bunk <bunk@kernel.org> writes:

> On Tue, Jan 29, 2008 at 04:22:45PM -0500, Pavel Roskin wrote:
>> Hello!
>> 
>> It have come to my attention that a patch has been committed to the
>> kernel with the explicit purpose of tainting ndiswrapper - the kernel
>> module allowing Windows NDIS drivers for Ethernet and Wireless cards to
>> be used by the kernel.
>>...
>> Just to reiterate some points from the old discussion:
>>...
>> - no copyright violation is involved, as Windows drivers are not derived
>> from Linux sources
>>...
>
> It is interesting that someone posting with an @gnu.org address claims
> that dynamic linking of not GPLv2 compatible code into GPLv2 code was
> not a copyright violation.

As long as you don't distribute /proc/kcore, I can't see how the GPL
would have any say in the matter.  The Windows drivers are (unrelated
violations aside) clearly not derived from GPL code.

IANAL

-- 
M?ns Rullg?rd
mans@mansr.com

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