Messages in this thread | | | Date | Wed, 10 Dec 2003 15:37:10 -0500 | From | Theodore Ts'o <> | Subject | Re: Linux GPL and binary module exception clause? |
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On Wed, Dec 10, 2003 at 09:02:21AM -0600, Jesse Pollard wrote: > > You are still deriving your binary from a GPL source when a module is loaded. > The kernel relocation symbols themselves are under GPL. >
Even if the relocation symbols are under GPL'ed (there is doubt whether such symbols are copyrightable --- since things like telephone numbers are not copyrightable, for example), there is still the issue that the user is the one which is loading the module, not the person writing and distributing the module. And at this point, given that the GPL itself says that it's all about distribution, not about the use of the GPL'ed software, not to mention the fair use doctrine (trust me, the open source community does **not** want to narrow what is considered fair use), there isn't a problem.
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