Messages in this thread | | | Date | Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:43:41 +0300 | From | Adrian Bunk <> | Subject | Re: [2.6 patch] binfmt_som.c: add MODULE_LICENSE |
| |
On Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 12:56:43PM -0400, John David Anglin wrote: > > The toplevel COPYING file of the kernel sources contains the exact > > licence text for all files (including binfmt_som.c) in the kernel. > > The COPYING file contains the license text but it doesn't say clearly > what the license applies to. The closest thing to this is the statement > > Also note that the GPL below is copyrighted by the Free Software > Foundation, but the instance of code that it refers to (the Linux > kernel) is copyrighted by me and others who actually wrote it. > > in the COPYING file. The applicability of the GPL is parenthetical. > The HOWTO file is more specific, but a clear license statement at the > top level of the "source" tree is missing.
There's a file named COPYING at the top level, and a file named README at the top level that says:
WHAT IS LINUX? ... It is distributed under the GNU General Public License - see the accompanying COPYING file for more details.
The GPLv2 licence on the Linux kernel is generally agreed upon (whether one likes it or not is a different question, but all contributors are aware that it applies) and has even been successfully enforced at court, which makes your attempts of finding a way to possibly interpret it differently kinda strange.
> Dave
cu Adrian
--
"Is there not promise of rain?" Ling Tan asked suddenly out of the darkness. There had been need of rain for many days. "Only a promise," Lao Er said. Pearl S. Buck - Dragon Seed
| |