Re: [PATCH] Enable writing to ATA devices, fix several bugs

[Marco Gerards <mgerards@xs4all.nl>]

Pavel Roskin <proski@gnu.org> writes:

> On Mon, 2008-07-21 at 17:20 +0200, Marco Gerards wrote:
>> Javier Martín <lordhabbit@gmail.com> writes:
>> 
>> > So what? Aren't both Linux and GRUB under the GPL? That _should_ mean
>> > that we can look at their code and put it into GRUB ("create a
>> > derivative work") either as-is or modified.
>> 
>> For GRUB 2 we require copyright assignments.
>
> Also, Linux is under GPLv2 and GRUB is under GPLv3.  This means that
> Linux developers could object that their code is restricted further than
> GPLv2 allows, e.g. there are additional anti-DRM provisions that the
> recipients of the GRUB code has to fulfill.
>
> That said, I cannot imagine that copying of variable names could be
> treated as a copyright violation.  For instance, Wine reimplements
> Windows API, and they just have to use the same names.

Please do not put words in my mouth, that is not what I said.  I said
looking at Linux *code* should be avoided.  If you have a look at the
ATA *code*, you might copy their algorithms or whatever.  I am asking
you to be careful.  Looking at code might give you an idea about how
to solve a problem, you might even implement this and legally... well,
I am not sure when you violate copyright or when not.  I cannot tell
if you looked at their code if you opened the files, study the
variable names and how they are used.

--
Marco