A good place to start is the RT Linux companies. Under the http://www.lineo.com/products/embedix/ you will find a white paper PDF that give a nice coverage of the issue. Since it it a commercial product they probably checked thing out.
Let us now about you final conclusion.. >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Oleg Goldshmidt [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] >> Sent: Monday, November 26, 2001 2:04 AM >> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Subject: making a non-GPLed module >> >> >> >> Let's say a company is considering making a kernel module out of >> a piece of software. Never mind the reasons to make it a >> kernel module >> - assume they are good and valid. There is no intention to sneak this >> module into the mainstream kernel - it's an add-on. Suppose >> there is a >> requirement to distribute it in binary form only, loadable via >> insmod/rmmod. >> >> I have researched the various web sources, such as LKML, LWN, etc >> (oh, well, through Google, of course), and I cannot figure out if >> there is a consensus on whether this would violate GPL or not. >> To avoid possible repetition of what I have learned already, here are >> the highlights of what I found. >> >> The only hint to consensus seems to be in the assertion that it is >> open to interpretation, and the suggestion to consult one's lawyer >> (who is likely to be ignorant on GPL or software or anything >> relevant). >> >> Linus seems to say that as long as a module does not touch the kernel >> itself, uses standard API only, and is not distributed together with >> the kernel, it's OK to release it in the binary form only. >> >> http://lists.insecure.org/linux-kernel/2000/Sep/1491.html >> >> here is Linus' note from the kernel's COPYING file. >> >> NOTE! This copyright does *not* cover user programs that >> use kernel >> services by normal system calls - this is merely considered >> normal use >> of the kernel, and does *not* fall under the heading of "derived >> work". >> >> From what I've read "user programs" here include loadable kernel >> modules (see ESR's view below). >> >> AC vocally disagrees. He basically says - drumroll - check with your >> lawyers, since you are exposed: >> >> http://lwn.net/2001/0614/a/ac-modules.php3 >> >> ESR tries to clarify, >> >> http://lwn.net/2001/0628/a/esr-modules.php3 >> >> and is also proposing a legal clarification here (a modification to >> the COPYING note quoted above), but AFAIK it has not been adopted by >> Linus (yet), nor is it clear to me whether the suggestion is >> compatible with GPL. >> >> Apparently, this is a hot topic. ESR's message is dated June >> 2001, and >> he mentions "jittery nerves at a lot of companies that are worried >> about this issue". >> >> Some Israeli companies probably know a bit or two about the >> issue. One >> recent controversy involved MOSIX, who allegedly violated GPL by >> hacking the kernel itself rather than sticking to writing modules. >> >> Does anyone know if a consensus has been reached? Can >> someone point me >> to the right source? NB, I am not looking for opinions >> (unless you are >> a lawyer, in that case don't bill me yet), just for information or >> experiences (as in "I/XYZ Ltd was sued for writing a closed-source >> module and won/lost"). >> >> I am hesitant to post to LKML. It has been discussed there several >> times, and I don't want to subscribe to or sift through this huge >> volume of traffic. There are people here who follow LKML, maybe they >> can point me to the right place? >> >> Thanks, >> >> -- >> Oleg Goldshmidt | [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> If it aint't broken it hasn't got enough features yet. >> >> ================================================================= >> To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with >> the word "unsubscribe" in the message body, e.g., run the command >> echo unsubscribe | mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> This e-mail message has been sent by Elbit Systems Ltd. and is for the use of the intended recipients only. The message may contain information that is privileged or confidential. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any use, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited, and you are requested to delete the e-mail and any attachments and notify the sender immediately. ================================================================= To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word "unsubscribe" in the message body, e.g., run the command echo unsubscribe | mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
