linux-kernel - Re: GPL only modules [was Re: [GIT PATCH] more Driver core patches for 2.6.19]

lists.openwall.net		lists / announce owl-users owl-dev john-users john-dev passwdqc-users yescrypt popa3d-users / oss-security kernel-hardening musl sabotage tlsify passwords / crypt-dev xvendor / Bugtraq Full-Disclosure linux-kernel linux-netdev linux-ext4 linux-hardening linux-cve-announce PHC
Open Source and information security mailing list archives

Hash Suite: Windows password security audit tool. GUI, reports in PDF.

[<prev] [next>] [<thread-prev] [thread-next>] [day] [month] [year] [list]

Message-ID: <20061214150514.GI3629@stusta.de>
Date:	Thu, 14 Dec 2006 16:05:14 +0100
From:	Adrian Bunk <bunk@...sta.de>
To:	Dave Jones <davej@...hat.com>,
	"Martin J. Bligh" <mbligh@...igh.org>,
	Linus Torvalds <torvalds@...l.org>, Greg KH <gregkh@...e.de>,
	Jonathan Corbet <corbet@....net>,
	Andrew Morton <akpm@...l.org>,
	"Michael K. Edwards" <medwards.linux@...il.com>,
	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: GPL only modules [was Re: [GIT PATCH] more Driver core patches for 2.6.19]

On Thu, Dec 14, 2006 at 08:07:04AM -0500, Dave Jones wrote:
> On Wed, Dec 13, 2006 at 09:39:11PM -0800, Martin J. Bligh wrote:
> 
>  > The Ubuntu feisty fawn mess was a dangerous warning bell of where we're
>  > going. If we don't stand up at some point, and ban binary drivers, we
>  > will, I fear, end up with an unsustainable ecosystem for Linux when
>  > binary drivers become pervasive. I don't want to see Linux destroyed
>  > like that.
> 
> Thing is, if kernel.org kernels get patched to disallow binary modules,
> whats to stop Ubuntu (or anyone else) reverting that change in the
> kernels they distribute ?  The landscape doesn't really change much,
> given that the majority of Linux end-users are probably running
> distro kernels.

If a kernel developer or a competitor sends a cease&desist letter to 
such a distribution, the situation changes from a complicated "derived 
work" discussion to a relatively clear "They circumvented a technical 
measure to enforce the copyright.".

> 		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

-
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@...r.kernel.org
More majordomo info at  http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
Please read the FAQ at  http://www.tux.org/lkml/