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    SubjectRe: [GIT PATCH] more Driver core patches for 2.6.19


    On Wed, 13 Dec 2006, Alan wrote:
    >
    > He only owns a small amount of the code. Furthermore he imported third
    > party GPL code using the license as sole permission. So he may have dug
    > a personal hole but many of the rest of us have been repeatedly saying
    > whenever he said that - that we do not agree.

    [ The "he" being me in the above ]

    Btw, I'd like to make it clear in this discussion too (as I have in
    others), that I agree 100% with Alan here.

    The thing is, my opinion is really just _my_ opinion. People shouldn't see
    it as anything else. When I say "I don't think we should totally disallow
    binary modules", you should always keep in mind that:

    - the fact that I think that _some_ binary modules may be perfectly legal
    does not mean that I think _all_ binary modules would be legal. I think
    there are lots of ways to make such a binary module that is obviously
    not ok.

    - I really _am_ just one of hundreds of copyright owners. The fact that
    _I_ am not necessarily all that eager to take things to court should in
    no way be seen as estoppel for _others_ who decide that they want to
    flex their legal rights.

    So when I "may have dug a personal hole", please realize that this is
    actually a personal - and conscious - choice. I've never wanted to do
    copyright assignments, for several reasons: I think they are nasty and
    wrong personally, and I'd hate all the paperwork, and I think it would
    actually detract from the development model.

    But one of the reasons I've never wanted copyright assignments is that I'm
    personally actually _more_ comfortable with the system being co-owned. I
    _like_ having my hands bound, and being in that hole. Not because of any
    strange sexual hangups either, but simply because I think being personally
    limited is something that makes people trust me more in the end - or
    rather, it is something that means that people don't _have_ to trust me.

    So people know that I can't unilaterally change the license. And they
    _know_ that they can actually take things to court on their own. AND THAT
    IS A GOOD THING. The last thing anybody _ever_ wants is to have me having
    absolute powers. Not you guys, and certainly not me.

    So you guys should always be happy, realizing that Linus may have his
    quirks, but that my quirks can't ever really screw you guys up.

    So I repeat: my opinions are _my_ opinions. Nobody else is legally bound
    by them. And I'm certainly willing to bend my behaviour in the presense of
    pressure (I think only mindless idiots can't change their mind - I
    personally change some of my opinions several times a day just to keep
    them fresh), but in somethign like this, where I _do_ have a fairly strong
    opinion, I really think that this kind of patch has to be merged in
    somebody elses tree than mine.

    If, after a year, it turns out that my tree is the only one that doesn't
    have that clause, I think I'll either get the hint, or people will realize
    that I'm pointless and will just ignore me. It will have taken you long
    enough to realize that ;)

    Because one of the great things about the GPL is that _nobody_ has the
    power to deny other peoples will. Not even me, not even for the kernel.

    Linus
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