Re: [RFC] multiboot2 loader

[Hollis Blanchard <hollis@penguinppc.org>]

On Thu, 2006-11-16 at 00:15 +0200, Yoshinori K. Okuji wrote:
> On Wednesday 15 November 2006 22:10, Hollis Blanchard wrote:
> > On Wed, 2006-11-15 at 22:33 +0200, Yoshinori K. Okuji wrote:
> > > On Tuesday 14 November 2006 02:16, Hollis Blanchard wrote:
> > > > I've placed a generic multiboot.h directly into include/ (not in the
> > > > grub subdirectory), since it it suitable for using in kernels
> > > > independently of GRUB. As for the license, I believe that
> > > > include/multiboot.h should NOT be GPL, to allow it to be used directly
> > > > for non-GPL operating systems like the BSDs.
> > >
> > > GRUB is entirely licensed under GPL. Please don't make an exception.
> >
> > An exception is exactly what I am proposing. What is your objection?
> 
> The GNU Project endorses the use of GPL to promote freedom. Don't forget that 
> GRUB is a part of GNU.

The GNU project also includes GCC, which is used to build non-Free
software. In fact GCC even contains libgcc, which is *linked* with
non-free software.

The GNU project also includes glibc, which is linked with (almost?) all
non-Free software on Linux.

The GNU project also uses the LGPL license, which allows all sorts of
Free software to be used with non-Free software.

GRUB itself is used to boot non-Free operating systems.

There is plenty of precedent here. So I still see nothing wrong with
putting a header file, which describes an interface, under a non-GPL
license.

-Hollis