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    SubjectRe: 2.6.24-rc7-rt2

    On Mon, 21 Jan 2008, Esben Nielsen wrote:
    >
    > Please, tell what in the license forbids me to make a global replacement
    > EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL -> EXPORT_SYMBOL and distribute the result?

    If you want to distribute that code, the authors of that said code
    may be able to challenge you in saying that you are enabling a means to
    circumvent a way around the license, and hold you liable. Remember, all it
    takes is one country with the laws that will grant this complaint.

    >
    > For me, on the other hand, it is against the spirit of free software to
    > actively make a block for people to do what ever they want with the code
    > when they are only doing it to themselves. That includes loading non-GPL
    > software into the kernel. The only thing they are not allowed to do is to
    > distribute it and in that way "hurt" other people.

    Honestly, I don't care which export it is. The thing is that I derived
    that code from someone else. I did not look up the original author of the
    code to find out which export they would like it to be. I may be able to
    argue that since it was under a LGPL and not a GPL license, I may very
    well be able to export it that way.

    I'm taking the safe way out. By exporting it as EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL, I am
    safe either way. By exporting it as EXPORT_SYMBOL without first hearing
    from the original author (and getting that in writing), or hearing it from
    a lawyer, I may be putting myself at risk.

    Feel free to creating a version of this code and
    s/EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL/EXPORT_SYMBOL/ and distribute it. I wont come after
    you for that, but at least I know those that would, will go after you and
    not me.

    Call me a chicken, I don't care, but I'm just not going to put myself nor
    my company I work for, at risk over this issue.

    -- Steve



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