From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S264929AbTLKM6i (ORCPT ); Thu, 11 Dec 2003 07:58:38 -0500 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S264930AbTLKM6i (ORCPT ); Thu, 11 Dec 2003 07:58:38 -0500 Received: from pentafluge.infradead.org ([213.86.99.235]:12751 "EHLO pentafluge.infradead.org") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S264929AbTLKM6c (ORCPT ); Thu, 11 Dec 2003 07:58:32 -0500 Subject: Re: Linux GPL and binary module exception clause? From: David Woodhouse To: Andre Hedrick Cc: Linus Torvalds , Larry McVoy , Erik Andersen , Zwane Mwaikambo , Paul Adams , linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org In-Reply-To: References: Content-Type: text/plain Message-Id: <1071147505.5712.597.camel@hades.cambridge.redhat.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Ximian Evolution 1.4.5 (1.4.5-8.dwmw2.1) Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 12:58:25 +0000 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Spam-Score: 0.0 (/) Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org On Thu, 2003-12-11 at 04:42 -0800, Andre Hedrick wrote: > Would you be kind enough to list "some circumstances" ? You have a work which is not derived and can reasonably be considered an independent and separate work in itself, but instead of distributing it as a separate work you distribute it as part of a whole which is a work based on a GPL'd Program. The precise meaning of 'as separate works' and 'part of a whole which is a work based on the Program' isn't entirely unambiguous. The GPL tries to clarify it by ruling out 'mere aggregation...on a volume of a storage or distribution medium' but stating its intent to control 'collective works'. There's still a little scope for interpretation though. My point, however, was that a copyright licence _can_ make such requirements. It _can_ require you to bathe daily in creosote too, and if you don't like that you have the option of not using the software which is licensed that way. > Also the authoritative (sp) reference supporting the list. Section 2 of the GPL, which I quoted only moments ago. -- dwmw2