Messages in this thread | | | Date | Tue, 24 Oct 2000 11:35:36 -0400 (EDT) | From | Donald Becker <> | Subject | Re: Topic for discussion: OS Design + GPL |
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On Mon, 23 Oct 2000, Andre Hedrick wrote:
> Subject: Re: Topic for discussion: OS Design + GPL > > ftp://ftp.etinc.com/pub/linux/linux22_hdlc.tgz > > Could explain to me why ET Inc is modifying GPL drivers and then > republishing the binaries as modules only? > > Not that it is my sub-system, but I am not sure that my friend Don knows > of this issue. If Don does not care then, good day. > > ls hdlc/usr/hdlc/dev/modules/2.2.14 > . eepro100.o etbwmgr.o tulip.o > .. eepro100orig.o ethdlc.o tuliporig.o
I very much care.
Neither the eepro100.c nor the tulip.c driver have been released under any license but the Gnu GPL.
Any distribution of those drivers must only be done under the terms of the GPL. That includes providing a copy of the GPL text and making a specific offer of source code as required by the GPL.
If you have offered driver object files without offering the source code,, you have terminated your right of redistribution of the code per paragraph 4 of the GPL. That means you have no right to distribute the drivers, even if the violation is corrected.
In general I will reinstate redistribution rights if - the license violation is acknowledged - you provide a specific plan to prevent future violations - you notify all existing recipients of the license violation, including their right to receive the source code. This reinstatement of rights is not automatic, especially with evidence of continued, willful violations.
Donald Becker becker@scyld.com Scyld Computing Corporation http://www.scyld.com 410 Severn Ave. Suite 210 Second Generation Beowulf Clusters Annapolis MD 21403 410-990-9993
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