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From: Gabor Kerenyi <wom@tateyama.hu>
To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
Subject: offtpic: GPL driver vs. non GPL driver
Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 19:37:48 +0900
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Message-Id: <200204171937.48441.wom@tateyama.hu>
Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org

Hi all!

Sorry if it is a little bit offtopic. As I posted before the company I am 
working for would like me to write a linux driver. It's wunderful. But as the 
other companies it wouldn't like to publish the source code and wants to 
distribute it only in binary format.
Of course I prefer the GPL.  How can I change the company's mind about it?
I planned the driver as the following:

The DRIVER itself (handles interrupt, pci resources, memory access etc)
A LIB, used by applications. In real life it implements the functions of the 
card.

First question: Is it possible to write the driver in GPL and then develop a 
binary only LIB? (I think yes because the LIB is in user space)

The company may accept the GPL-d driver, but not the GPL-d (or LGPL-d) LIB.

What are the advantages when the driver is GPL? How can I change the company's 
mind to publish the driver in GPL? (or if someone has got idea about the LGPL 
LIB too...)

Now the driver doesn't use any GPL-only symbols...

THX

Gabor

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