From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S263785AbTLEAqz (ORCPT ); Thu, 4 Dec 2003 19:46:55 -0500 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S263786AbTLEAqy (ORCPT ); Thu, 4 Dec 2003 19:46:54 -0500 Received: from codepoet.org ([166.70.99.138]:42475 "EHLO codepoet.org") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S263785AbTLEAqx (ORCPT ); Thu, 4 Dec 2003 19:46:53 -0500 Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2003 17:46:54 -0700 From: Erik Andersen To: Paul Adams Cc: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Subject: Re: Linux GPL and binary module exception clause? Message-ID: <20031205004653.GA7385@codepoet.org> Reply-To: andersen@codepoet.org Mail-Followup-To: Erik Andersen , Paul Adams , linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org References: <20031204235055.62846.qmail@web21503.mail.yahoo.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <20031204235055.62846.qmail@web21503.mail.yahoo.com> X-Operating-System: Linux 2.4.19-rmk7, Rebel-NetWinder(Intel StrongARM 110 rev 3), 185.95 BogoMips X-No-Junk-Mail: I do not want to get *any* junk mail. User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.4i Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org On Thu Dec 04, 2003 at 03:50:55PM -0800, Paul Adams wrote: > Unless actual Linux code is incorporated in a binary > distribution > in some form, I don't see how you can claim > infringement of the > copyright on Linux code, at least in the U.S. A kernel module is useless without a Linux kernel in which it can be loaded. Once loaded, it becomes not merely an adjunct, but an integrat part of the Linux kernel. Further, it clearly "incorporate[s] a portion of the copyrighted work" since it can only operate within the context of the kernel by utilizing Linux kernel function calls. To abuse your earlier metaphor, a kernel module is not comparable to a programmatic musical composition inspired by a novel. It is better comparared with another novel with substantial similarity in the theme, plot, sequence, settings, mood, dialogue, and characters, with the same story being told, with trademarked phrases and taglines, and that makes no sense whatsoever unless you insert it's entire content over the top of page 450, paragraph 4 (of the Linux "novel"), and which thereby changes the ending of the original book... -Erik -- Erik B. Andersen http://codepoet-consulting.com/ --This message was written using 73% post-consumer electrons--