Re: embedded linux products && GPL && non-GPL'ed stuff

Jeff Garzik (jgarzik@pobox.com)
Mon, 20 Sep 1999 12:10:57 -0400


Bjorn Wesen wrote:
> Joe obviously makes his kernel changes public, and any changes in GPL'ed
> applications he has used.
>
> However that leaves ambiguity regarding the modules, and his own
> applications.

AFAIK the current interpretation suggests that you must keep it out of
the statically-linked kernel image. This would tend to imply using an
initrd image for critical modules which can't be GPL'd.

It has also been mentioned that you could shove all non-GPL'd binary
code into a special ELF section of the static kernel image, and
similarly satisfy the GPL 'separate work' clause.

Standard IANL / IANAL disclaimers apply.
( I Am Not Linus / I Am Not A Lawyer )

Jeff

-- 
Custom driver development	|    Never worry about theory as long
Open source programming		|    as the machinery does what it's
				|    supposed to do.  -- R. A. Heinlein

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