Re: Linux GPL and binary module exception clause?

Kendall Bennett
2003-12-10T19:47:30Z

Linus Torvalds <torvalds@osdl.org> wrote:

> Just imagine: distributing a compiled binary-only kernel module
> that can be loaded into the kernel is not like distributing a new
> book: it's more like distributing a extra chapter to a book that
> somebody else wrote, that uses all the same characters and the
> plot, but more importantly it literally can only be read _together_
> with the original work. It doesn't stand alone.

So what if the chapter you wrote was generic enough that it *could* be
used for different books? Maybe it couldn't be read alone (at least not
with a small book the link the chapters to make logical sense), but it
could be read as a whole along with lots of book.

In that case you would believe such a book would not be a derivative
work, correct?

Regards,

---
Kendall Bennett
Chief Executive Officer
SciTech Software, Inc.
Phone: (530) 894 8400
http://www.scitechsoft.com

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