Re: rt73usb: support for wireless in Kohjinsha subnotebook

Pavel Machek
2007-10-22T22:00:08Z

Hi!

> > > Yes, I'm quite sure. There's MODULE_LICENCE("GPL"), IIRC.
> >
> > That doesn't say much, some manufacturers add that line to their driver
> > just to prevent the module loader complaining about a non-GPL driver...
> >
> > There should be a copyright notice or a license file accompanied with
> > the driver that clearly states the license of the driver.
>
> Lacking an explicitly stated license it can be argued that, since the
> MODULE_LICENSE() macro is meant to define the actual license on the code,
> this code is GPL. No, it isn't an explicit definition, but lacking any other
> signs of the license, the implicit declaration of it being GPL is (or should
> be) enough to deflect charges of copyright infringement.

Yep, I believe this driver is GPLed. They published the source and
there's nothing to suggest otherwise, and there's explicit:

#define DRIVER_AUTHOR "Jeff Lee<YY_Lee@issc.com.tw>"
#define DRIVER_DESC "IS89C35 802.11bg WLAN USB Driver"
MODULE_LICENSE("GPL");

Pavel

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