lkml.org 
[lkml]   [2008]   [Nov]   [18]   [last100]   RSS Feed
Views: [wrap][no wrap]   [headers]  [forward] 
 
Messages in this thread
/
From
SubjectRe: Developing non-commercial drivers ?
Date
Fredrik Markström wrote:
> Linus, others...
>
> I'm working for as a consultant for a large hardware company porting
> Linux to their new cpu-architecture and everything is pretty much
> up and running. Now they want us to develop a closed-source (to
> protect their IP) ethernet driver for their proprietary Ethernet MAC.
>
> My question is: Is there a fair way to do this and still comply to
> the intent and spirit of the Linux licensing ?
>
> If yes, how ?

In a word, I would say: no.

When developing a non-GPL kernel driver, one finds themselves on very
shaky legal ground. Unless one is 100% sure their code is not legally
considered a derived work from the kernel, it's likely a GPL violation.

One could point out the pile of other Ethernet drivers in the kernel
from the likes of Intel, Broadcom, etc. and ask why those companies did
not feel the need to "protect their IP" in this manner.. as well as the
significant advantages of having their driver in the mainline kernel,
and the horrible disadvantages of trying to manage closed-source drivers..

--
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org
More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/

\
 
 \ /
  Last update: 2008-11-18 17:31    [W:0.200 / U:0.024 seconds]
©2003-2020 Jasper Spaans|hosted at Digital Ocean and TransIP|Read the blog|Advertise on this site