Messages in this thread | | | Date | Sat, 27 Feb 1999 09:23:07 -0800 (PST) | From | Y2K <> | Subject | [OFFTOPIC] Potential GPL violation of Linux kernel by MOSIX? |
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http://slashdot.org/articles/99/02/27/076204.shtml has a discussion of how maybe the project at http://www.cs.huji.ac.il/mosix/ violates the GPL license of the kernel. They are distributing a binary-only kernel module that requires kernel modifications.
From a quote from Howard C. Shaw found on slashdot: >The Real Question here is what was Linus' ruling? Did he or did he not >say, as de Icaza maintained, that binary modules with no source available >could be linked with the kernel ONLY if they required no modifications to >the kernel?
>Bigger question: they say on their site that the kernel mods >are to allow other modules to access the binary. Is this necessary >to use the binary, or an additional resource? If the binary >can be used without employing the kernel mods then the mods can be >considered a separate piece of software, as might have been >written by us to take better advantage of theirs, in which case no >violation exists in either of the above cases!
>If on the other hand, you cannot use the module without also >using the kernel mods, AND de Icaza is correct with regard to the >determination made by Linus on the subject of binary modules, >then they are in violation of the GPL.
>Thus before we cry foul, let us find out: can this binary >module be used for its intended purpose without needing these kernel >mods? If these kernel mods are only a gracious contribution by >the university to allow the open source community to take better >advantage of MOSIX, then more power to them, and we should >silence our criticisms.
>But if they are an integral and required part of running MOSIX >on Linux, then we MUST act to correct this... but how?
I am interested in what the people on lkml have to say about this; they should have perspective on this then a random bunch of ./ers.
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