Re: [openib-general] Re: [PATCH][RFC/v1][4/12] Add InfiniBand SA (Subnet Administration) query support

From: Greg KH
Date: Wed Nov 24 2004 - 15:02:40 EST


On Wed, Nov 24, 2004 at 11:23:37AM -0800, Roland Dreier wrote:
> Greg> No. RCU is covered by a patent that only allows for it to
> Greg> be implemented in GPL licensed code. If you want to use RCU
> Greg> in non-GPL code, you need to sign a license agreement with
> Greg> the holder of the RCU patent.
>
> Not to stir up the flames any further (and this is really a moot point
> since I got rid of our use of RCU)...
>
> But given that I could implement the same API as in rcupdate.h as
> below without using IBM's patented technique, how does merely using
> this API cause code to require a patent license?

Consult your IP lawyer for issues like this, I am not one, and do not
have an answer for this.

thanks,

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