nvidia

[Karl Larsen]

Frank Cox wrote:
> On Sun, 28 Oct 2007 19:06:21 +0000
> Chris Jones <jonesc at hep.phy.cam.ac.uk> wrote:
>
>   
>> Are you saying the driver is illegal full stop ?
>>     
>
> It may be.
>
>   
>> If so in what way ?
>>     
>
> It adds a binary blob to the kernel.
>
> I just found a reference that explains this rather well.
>
> QUOTE:
> The majority of core Linux contributors believe (based on legal advice) that
> it's impossible to produce a loadable Linux kernel module without it being a
> derivative of the kernel code to some extent, and therefore having to fall
> under the GPL due to the GPL's restrictions on derivative works. It's not a
> situation that's ever been tested in court, and clearly not everyone agrees -
> however, it's plausible enough that there's basically no chance of code being
> added to the core kernel for no purpose other than facilitating a set of
> non-GPLed kernel modules.
> END OF QUOTE
>
> You can find this (and further discussion) here:
> http://blogs.sun.com/ahl/entry/dtrace_knockoffs
>
>   
    Nothing you say involves legal problems. They are just rules kernel 
people like you to use. But there is no rule that says I can't compile 
the kernel myself. So it all sounds silly to me.



-- 

	Karl F. Larsen, AKA K5DI
	Linux User
	#450462   http://counter.li.org.