On Thu, Nov 30, 2006 at 06:29:36PM +0200, Ira Abramov wrote: > > say you had a client you worked for. One day over lunch, one of the guys > of the R&D of a different product at the company tells you how they > circumvent the kernel checks to load a non-GPL module and get all the > symbols a GPL module gets.
I don't see what's wrong with that. It's a compromise that makes both parties win. The kernel stays GPL'ed, it loses nothing. The vendor makes his OCO (object code only) module available to whomever meets the critera he has, and they get to use it with Linux. If they don't want to use nonGLP'ed code with their Linux kernel, they simply don't load the vendor's module. It may mean a lost function for a customer, more likley it means a lost sale for the vendor. > This is not exactly a GPL violation, however it makes a stock RHEL > kernel be fooled to think this closed source module is actually GPL and > give it access to more info than the kernel team wanted. I think in the U.S. that would be a violation of the DMCA. Do you want such laws here? Is this any different than SAMBA? Printer ink cartridges? DeCSS? > What would you do? > do you just protest but keep working there? No, you congratulate them on a job well done. You convince them to make a case for releasing the module as open source and help them promote it to the managment. Offer to extend your contract (and compensation) to help them make the switch and promote it. > make that information public? No. > Inform lkml how they fooled the kernel without revieling the identity of > the violators, just to help them patch it for the future? No. They'll just work around it, abandon the product or go with BSD. > spill the beans on Slashdot? Those ~@@[EMAIL PROTECTED] They'll just make a fool of you. The truth is the last thing they care about. > and what would you do if it was a real GPL violation? Nothing. From my experience people in general and most of the people on this list only care when you are discussing it. If it affects something they want to use, or can make money on, the GPL is happily ignored. > will a signed NDA with that company make a difference in your decision? No. An NDA will just get you sued faster, but you will be sued in the end. Consider it a CLM. Geoff. -- Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel [EMAIL PROTECTED] N3OWJ/4X1GM IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838 Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.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]
