Messages in this thread | | | Date | Sat, 19 Aug 2006 11:48:08 +0100 | From | David Greaves <> | Subject | Re: GPL Violation? |
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David Schwartz wrote: >> Ar Gwe, 2006-08-18 am 02:51 -0700, ysgrifennodd David Schwartz: >> EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL is clearly a rights management systems. Thats one of >> its little charms. > > No, it is not. If it was, it would violate the GPL. The GPL prohibits any > restrictions not contained in the GPL, and the GPL doesn't say anything > about EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL. To the contrary, the GPL prohibits restrictions on > use. So EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL violates the GPL if you are not free to circumvent > or remove it. > > We had this same discussion a few years ago, and my recollection was that > you agreed that EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL could not be a license enforcement scheme. > Which term of the GPL do you think it enforces exactly?
I thought the EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL had a role in rights _management_ insofar as it would shows that anyone circumventing it took a conscious act to do so. This may or may not be valuable in subsequent, possibly legal, discussions.
It's not a rights _enforcement_ scheme on it's own (presumably enforcement would ultimately involve men with big sticks - aka the legal system). It simply helps manage (GPL) rights.
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