Re: GPL issues

From: David Weinehall
Date: Tue Apr 11 2006 - 19:07:07 EST


OK, simplified rules; if you follow them you should generally be OK:

1. Changes to kernel --> GPL

2. Kernel driver --> GPL

3. Userspace code that uses interfaces that was not exposed to userspace
before you change the kernel --> GPL (but don't do it; there's almost
always a reason why an interface is not exported to userspace)

4. Userspace code that only uses existing interfaces --> choose
license yourself (but of course, GPL would be nice...)

5. Userspace code that depends on interfaces you added to the kernel
--> consult a lawyer (if this interface is something completely new,
you can *probably* use your own license for the userland part; if the
interface is more or less a wrapper of existing functionality, GPL)

And of course, I'm not a lawyer either...


Regards: David Weinehall
--
/) David Weinehall <tao@xxxxxxxxxx> /) Northern lights wander (\
// Maintainer of the v2.0 kernel // Dance across the winter sky //
\) http://www.acc.umu.se/~tao/ (/ Full colour fire (/
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