> "David Schwartz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > > I don't know who told you that or why, but it's obvious nonsense,
> Correct. > > Exports should be marked GPL if and only if they cannot be used > > except in a derivative work. If it is possible to use them > > without taking > > sufficient protectable expression, they should not be marked GPL. > This isn't very obvious to me. It may not be obvious, but it is the design and purpose of marking exports GPL. > The licence doesn't talk about GPL or non-GPL exports. It doesn't > restrict the use, only distribution of the software. One is free to > remove _GPL from the code and distribute it anyway (except perhaps for > some DMCA nonsense). That's true. The DMCA doesn't prevent it, since marking symbols is *not* a license enforcement mechanism. > If a code is a derivative work it has to be distributed (use is not > restricted) under GPL, EXPORT _GPL or not _GPL. Of course. > One may say _GPL is a strong indication that all users are > automatically a derivative works, but it's only that - indication. It > doesn't mean they are really derivative works and it doesn't mean a > module not using any _GPL exports isn't a derivative. Of course. (The only people who argue otherwise are the 'linking makes a derivative work' idiots.) > I think introducing these _GPL symbols was a mistake in the first place. Perhaps, since people seem to be trying to refight the same battles again. The agreement made when the feature was added was that EXPORT_GPL was not a license enforcement mechanism but was an indication that someone believed that any use of the symbol was possible only a derivative work that would need to be distributed under the GPL. > Actually I think the _GPL exports are really harmful - somebody > distributing a binary module may claim he/she doesn't violate the GPL > because the module uses only non-GPL exports. Anyone can argue anything. That would be an obviously stupid argument. Perhaps clearer documentation might be helpful, but the GPL speaks for itself. > OTOH GPL symbols give > _us_ exactly nothing. They serve as a warning and, as a practical matter, may make it a bit more difficult to violate the license. DS -- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/