>> I'd be inclined to run their code through a disasm...
>> Perhaps they "let the cat out of the bag" and are trying to cover
>> themselves now. Didn't the BEOS people steal device driver code
>> from Linux in the past? And afterwards drop the drivers when
>> threatened with possible legal action?
>
>No, thay published source code. If binary drivers in Linux kernel are
>not violation of GPL
Binary drivers linked into the kernel *ARE* in violation of the
GPL. Binary only *MODULES* which *DO NOT* contain *ANY* GPL
source code whatsoever are ok.
>then driver is not really linked to kernel and so GPL driver
>for BeOS is not violation of GPL as well...
It is perfectly fine as far as I know for the BEOS people (or
iToaster people for that matter) to distribute whatever software
they like as a GPL'd product. If it is indeed GPL, and does not
violate the GPL in any way whatsoever, then they can do just that
as long as they distribute the sources.
They can use entire chunks of the kernel, so long as any
derivative works that they make are ALL distributed under GPL.
They may *NOT* link *ANY* GPL'd code into their proprietary
closed-source code. This is in violation of GPL.
>P.S. Unfortunatelly we can not do anything till iToaster will be really
>available...
We can find out the exact facts, and if in fact they are toying
with the free source community, we can give them some nice
slashdot articles.
;o)
-- Mike A. Harris Linux advocate GNU advocate Computer Consultant Open Source advocateTea, Earl Grey, Hot...
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