Date: Mon, 14 Jun 1999 17:43:40 -0700 (PDT) From: Tani Hosokawa <unknown@riverstyx.net> To: David Schwartz <davids@webmaster.com> Cc: Dag-Erling Smorgrav <des@flood.ping.uio.no>, David Kelly <dkelly@hiwaay.net>, Morten Seeberg <morten@seeberg.dk>, freebsd-chat@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: RE: SGI Donated Journalised FS Source to Linux Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.10.9906141737070.1992-100000@avarice.riverstyx.net> In-Reply-To: <000001beb642$65385540$021d85d1@whenever.youwant.to>
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I don't see as how the kernel module would be "stealing" from the kernel at all. From a module's perspective, the kernel just has an API that it has to conform to. In fact, a kernel module is only really a highly specialized form of executable, and I think it would be inane to suggest that all Linux executables be GPL'd because they happen to use various kernel hooks in order to operate. XFS is a concept all on its own, and it doesn't require the kernel to exist. It can be attached to any operating system. What Dag is thinking of, I assume, is the clause in the GPL that states that if a GPL'd component is included (bundled) with another product, the latter product must be GPL'd. It doesn't work in reverse, and I don't see the situation being the Linux kernel being bundled as part of the XFS package. Just thoughts and jots... On Mon, 14 Jun 1999, David Schwartz wrote: > > FWIW, my lawyers don't agree. If a derived work requires the original work > in order to be used, you can steal from the original all you want. > > For example, if I make a replacement foo.sys for Windows 98, I can steal > from Windows 98 all I want so long as the finished foo.sys can only be used > with Windows 98. > > After all, what good does it do to steal something if you can only give it > to those who already have it? What would Microsoft's damages be? > > Similarly, a kernel module may have to steal from the kernel, but since it > can only be used with the kernel, the same rule applies. > > DS > > > I hope they won't be too busy "reviewing the terms of the XFS license" > > to read the GPL and discover that it requires them to release XFS > > under GPL, even if it is "not part of the kernel but rather a loadable > > module". > > > > DES > > -- > > Dag-Erling Smorgrav - des@flood.ping.uio.no > > > > > > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org > > with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message > > > > > > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org > with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message > --- tani hosokawa river styx internet To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message
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