Messages in this thread |  | | Date | Wed, 6 Sep 2000 16:11:26 -0700 | From | Dave Allen <> | Subject | Is it OK to release non-GPL network driver with source? |
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My company is currently working on a linux network driver (I'm sorry, but I can't disclose which company or the nature of the driver right now). However, recent discussions on this list have made me grow concerned about licensing problems with the GPL.
The source code for the driver _is_ going to be available, but it will not be GPL'd. There are no patches to the kernel involved. I understand that there should be no problems, but the use of inline functions in the kernel header files makes the situation a bit more complicated. The compiled binary code then does contain GPL'd code, so would it not then be considered a "derivative work"?
If indeed this is a violation of the GPL, is there any way around this by releasing only the source code (even though it isn't GPL'd)? I mean, the compiled binary code does contain GPL'd code, but the source code does not. Is it OK to distribute this?
So, I'm asking the experts here for opinions or insights.
-- Dave Allen daveallen@acm.org - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/
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