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Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2006 19:38:24 -0700
From: "Joshua Hudson" <joshudson@gmail.com>
To: "Ramakanth Gunuganti" <rgunugan@yahoo.com>, linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
Subject: Re: GPL issues
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On 4/11/06, David Weinehall <tao@acc.umu.se> wrote:
> OK, simplified rules; if you follow them you should generally be OK:
>
> 1. Changes to kernel --> GPL
>
> 2. Kernel driver --> GPL
>
> 3. Userspace code that uses interfaces that was not exposed to userspace
> before you change the kernel --> GPL (but don't do it; there's almost
> always a reason why an interface is not exported to userspace)
>
> 4. Userspace code that only uses existing interfaces --> choose
> license yourself (but of course, GPL would be nice...)
>
> 5. Userspace code that depends on interfaces you added to the kernel
> --> consult a lawyer (if this interface is something completely new,
> you can *probably* use your own license for the userland part; if the
> interface is more or less a wrapper of existing functionality, GPL)
>
> And of course, I'm not a lawyer either...
Excellent summary except for one case. Propriatary binary allowed in initramfs?
Not that I care.