Re: ndiswrapper and GPL-only symbols redux

Chris Friesen
2008-01-31T15:20:58Z

David Newall wrote:
> This idea that some symbols may only be
> dynamically bound to GPL code is fallacy.

As I understand it, the point of EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL is not so much the
technical restriction (as you say, the module can lie or the user can
patch the kernel) but to indicate that the kernel developers consider
such interfaces to be internal to the kernel such that anything using it
would be highly likely to be a "derived work" of the kernel.

It's a hint to other developers rather than a prevention measure.

Chris