> | Binary only kernel modules are a clear violation of the GPL (since they > | "link" to the kernel image, much like linking is done with a loadable > | run time library). However, Linux Torvalds have expressed his > | "agreement" for the existance of binary only kernel modules as > long they > | load ageinst an unmodified kernel (which is why MOSIX had to release > | their stuff under the GPL too). Mind you, he still thinks (or at least > | said so) that it's "immoral" and there's doubt that you will be cast > | away by Saint IGNUcious from the one true church (of EMACS, of course > | ;-) but he allows it. > > We in the MOSIX team did not violate any copyright or do anything illegal: > It is true that parts of our software did not comply with the GPL, > but there was no reason they should have.
I most certainly did not say you violated any license or done anything illegal and I straight out apologies if this was somehow implied in my answer as it was not my intent. It was my understanding however that you changed the license you picked for MOSIX after discussion with Linus and others, I'd hope because you realized that the GPL is a Good Thing (tm) for the code but also because the GPL, as interpreted by the FSF, says you would have been in violation had you chose to do it otherwise. Personally, I applaud you for putting the work under the GPL, regardless of why you've done it. I was merely using MOSIX to demonstrate the point that *according to the FSF* releasing only the parts that use (as in #include) the GPLed work and let that communicate with the binary only module, which does not #include any GPLed work may not be enough to stand by the license. The FSF stand is that what determines whether or not you stand by the GPL or not in this case is the way the two modules (the one containing GPLed work and the one that doesn't) communicate. If they communicate by pipes, sockets, CORBA, smoke signals or anything else BUT linking to each other you're in the clear. if however they communicate via linking (as kernel modules do), you're NOT standing by the license. So says the FSF. Hope this shed some light on the matter, Gilad. -- Gilad Ben-Yossef <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Tel: +972(9)9717330 | Fax: +972(9)9717334 | Cel: +972(54)756701 Kagoor Networks ltd | http://www.kagoor.com | ================================================================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]
