Re: Non-GPL export of invalidate_mmap_range

Christoph Hellwig
2004-02-19T12:32:37Z

On Wed, Feb 18, 2004 at 03:32:34PM -0800, Andrew Morton wrote:
> > Yes. We've traditionally not exported symbols unless we had an intree user,
> > and especially not if it's for a module that's not GPL licensed.
>
> That's certainly a good rule of thumb and we (and I) have used it before.
>
> What is the reasoning behind it?

The reason is that someone who wants to distribute a binary only module
has to show it's module is not a derived work, and someone who needs new
core in the kernel and new exports pretty much shows his work is deeply
integrated with the kernel.