Re: [PATCH] USB: mark USB drivers as being GPL only

[Alan Cox <alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk>]

> In other words "EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL" isn't his idea of "a good legal idea", but 
> people ignoring this and doing things that circumvent this will, eventually, 
> have problems with the people who hold the copyright on the code. (In 
> addition, he stated that circumventing the "EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL" bit might also 
> be in violation of the DMCA, but he isn't sure if a court would see it in the 
> same light as someone cracking the CSS key on a DVD expressly for the purpose 
> of creating pirated copies)

There was a good analysis of that argument on the list some time ago. I
think the conclusion was fairly definitively no as the GPL explicitly
gives the right to modify GPL code. You are therefore aready "authorised"
to make such a change.

It might have a significance in terms of intent but thats for lawyers to
argue over.

Alan