linux-kernel - Re: GPL vs non-GPL device drivers

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Message-ID: <20070218170822.GC3945@ucw.cz>
Date:	Sun, 18 Feb 2007 17:08:23 +0000
From:	Pavel Machek <pavel@....cz>
To:	Scott Preece <sepreece@...il.com>
Cc:	Dave Neuer <mr.fred.smoothie@...ox.com>, davids@...master.com,
	"Linux-Kernel@...r. Kernel. Org" <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>
Subject: Re: GPL vs non-GPL device drivers

Hi!

> >> (See, among other cases, Lexmark. v. Static
> >> Controls.) A copyright is not a patent, you can only 
> >own something if there
> >> are multiple equally good ways to do it and you claim 
> >*one* of them.
> >
> >Only in a world where "write a Linux module" is a 
> >"functional idea." I
> >don't think that the legal world in the US is an 
> >example of such a
> >world, though you clearly do.
> ---
> 
> "Interface the xyz device to the Linux kernel" is a 
> functional idea in
> pretty much the same sense that the Lexmark case 
> involved. You
> generally can't copyright functional interfaces; there 
> is a strong
> prejudice towards allowing interoperability.

You are welcome to write kernel modules without including *any* header
files. That may be ok in parts of US based on precedent you cite.

Somehow I do not think v j is doing, so he is violating our copyright.
Seems simple to me...

							Pavel

-- 
(english) http://www.livejournal.com/~pavelmachek
(cesky, pictures) http://atrey.karlin.mff.cuni.cz/~pavel/picture/horses/blog.html
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