linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH] [v2] Documentation: clarify driver licensing rules

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Message-ID: <20200831163720.3c70d17d@lwn.net>
Date:   Mon, 31 Aug 2020 16:37:20 -0600
From:   Jonathan Corbet <corbet@....net>
To:     Dave Hansen <dave.hansen@...ux.intel.com>
Cc:     linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, dan.j.williams@...el.com,
        h.peter.anvin@...el.com, tglx@...utronix.de,
        gregkh@...uxfoundation.org, linux-spdx@...r.kernel.org,
        linux-doc@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: [PATCH] [v2] Documentation: clarify driver licensing rules

On Fri, 14 Aug 2020 07:56:25 -0700
Dave Hansen <dave.hansen@...ux.intel.com> wrote:

> Greg has challenged some recent driver submitters on their license
> choices. He was correct to do so, as the choices in these instances
> did not always advance the aims of the submitters.
> 
> But, this left submitters (and the folks who help them pick licenses)
> a bit confused. They have read things like
> Documentation/process/license-rules.rst which says:
> 
> 	individual source files can have a different license
> 	which is required to be compatible with the GPL-2.0
> 
> and Documentation/process/submitting-drivers.rst:
> 
> 	We don't insist on any kind of exclusive GPL licensing,
> 	and if you wish ... you may well wish to release under
> 	multiple licenses.
> 
> As written, these appear a _bit_ more laissez faire than we've been in
> practice lately. It sounds like we at least expect submitters to make
> a well-reasoned license choice and to explain their rationale. It does
> not appear that we blindly accept anything that is simply
> GPLv2-compatible.
> 
> Drivers appear to be the most acute source of misunderstanding, so fix
> the driver documentation first. Update it to clarify expectations.

Applied, thanks.

jon