Re: Can't use SYSFS for "Proprietry" driver modules !!!.

Horst von Brand
2005-03-29T16:35:09Z

Kyle Moffett <mrmacman_g4@mac.com> said:

[...]

> I think it really depends on the APIs implemented. Anything based
> on the sysfs code, even if only using the APIs, will probably be
> found to be a derivative work (NOTE: IANAL) because the sysfs API
> is so very different from everything else. Other interfaces like
> PCI management, memory management, etc, may not be so protectable,
> because they are standard across many systems. If Linux got a
> new and unique memory hotplug API, however, that might be a very
> different story. Similar things could be said about integration
> between drivers and the new Unified Driver Model, which appears to
> be quite original.

Sorry, but an /interfase/ is there to do exactly that. It can be placed
under copyright protection as code, but /using/ it just can't be considered
a derived work. It makes no sense that if I get a description (docu,
example code, whatever) and learn from that how it is used, and then go and
write my own, that my code it should be a derived work of what is at the
other side of the interfase.

If this was true, Linux would be a ripoff from Unix (same system calls),
and any program ever written for Unix would belong to Novell (or SCOXE, or
UCB, depending on whom you believe in the current mess). Note that this is
quite similar to the gargabe SCOXE tried claiming against Linux/IBM, and
had to take back.
--
Dr. Horst H. von Brand User #22616 counter.li.org
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