Re: [PATCH 2.6.25] module: allow ndiswrapper to use GPL-only symbols

Chris Friesen
2008-02-29T19:22:58Z

Linus Torvalds wrote:
>
> On Fri, 29 Feb 2008, Chris Friesen wrote:
>
>>But the GPL only applies to derivative works. Given that ndiswrapper loads
>>binaries designed for another OS, doesn't that mean that it is unlikely that
>>the binaries would be impacted by the GPL?
>
>
> But that's what GPLONLY means.
>
> What's so hard to understand? The driver may not be a derivative work, but
> it sure as hell isn't GPL'd.

I hope this won't dump me into the flamers filter....but here goes:

If the intent of the GPLONLY export is really to keep the symbol from
being used by non-GPL code then I agree that ndiswrapper shouldn't be
able to use them.

However, you yourself wrote something stating otherwise:
(http://groups.google.ca/group/linux.kernel/msg/0066655bb1be1e4c):

'I think we _can_ do things where we give clear hints to people that "we
think this is such an internal Linux thing that you simply cannot use
this without being considered a derived work".....So I personally don't
see EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL() to be a "technical measure", I see it as being
"documentation".'

Under that interpretation, ndiswrapper should be able to make use of
GPLONLY symbols because the binary blobs are clearly not derivative works.

Chris