Re: [PATCH] USB: mark USB drivers as being GPL only

Alan Cox
2008-02-08T21:43:45Z

> In other words "EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL" isn't his idea of "a good legal idea", but
> people ignoring this and doing things that circumvent this will, eventually,
> have problems with the people who hold the copyright on the code. (In
> addition, he stated that circumventing the "EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL" bit might also
> be in violation of the DMCA, but he isn't sure if a court would see it in the
> same light as someone cracking the CSS key on a DVD expressly for the purpose
> of creating pirated copies)

There was a good analysis of that argument on the list some time ago. I
think the conclusion was fairly definitively no as the GPL explicitly
gives the right to modify GPL code. You are therefore aready "authorised"
to make such a change.

It might have a significance in terms of intent but thats for lawyers to
argue over.

Alan