Re: Module Licensing?

Rik van Riel
2001-10-31T17:28:12Z

On Wed, 31 Oct 2001, Larry McVoy wrote:

> > Since your program, which happens to consist of one open
> > source part and one proprietary part, is partly a derived
> > work from the kernel source (by using kernel header files
> > and the inline functions in it) your whole work must be
> > distributed under the GPL.
>
> This is obviously incorrect, that would say that
>
> #include <sys/types.h>
>
> means my app is now GPLed. Good luck enforcing that.

You're right, just including <sys/types.h> won't do that,
but either of:

1) using inline functions from a .h file or
2) linking to the library/kernel later on

might mean your stuff is GPLed.

Be careful which definitions you get from the
header file, inline functions are a very grey
area ;)

regards,

Rik
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