Re: licensing issue

[Greg KH <greg@kroah.com>]

On Thu, Jul 05, 2001 at 05:34:37PM -0600, Joseph A. Knapka wrote:
> Greg KH wrote:
> > 
> > On Thu, Jul 05, 2001 at 09:31:48PM +0530, Raghav P wrote:
> > > (ii) In case a downloadable module needs to export certain variables to the
> > > kernel and we have changed the kernel for this effect. Should the module's
> > > source code be made open source?
> > 
> > If you have to change the kernel to get your module to work, then yes,
> > you have to release the module code under the GPL.
> 
> Why is that? I can see why you would need to release the
> kernel changes (they're a derived work), but why the
> module code?

All I know is at my last place of employment, they developed a kernel
module that involved changing some of the kernel code with a patch.
They asked Linus about this and he responded with that statement.  So
the kernel module that we developed, we released under the GPL.

If you want to get "legal" about the GPL, binary modules are not even
allowed.  But since Linus has said they are ok, you are in murkier
waters.

I agree with the previous comment to go talk to a lawyer if you are
unsure about it.  Don't rely on some people writing on a mailing list
who are not lawyers :)

greg k-h
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