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Are these kernel modules? Doesn't modprobe/insmod of a driver bring it into a strict GPLv2 environment? If so, the Software Freedom Conservancy needs to "busy
by chasil 4y ago
Are these kernel modules?
Doesn't modprobe/insmod of a driver bring it into a strict GPLv2 environment?
If so, the Software Freedom Conservancy needs to "busybox" the recalcitrant OEMs.
- wmf 4y agoYes, no, and this is beyond SFC. Linus himself authorized proprietary kernel modules decades ago.
- chasil 4y agoThat scoundrel! :)
- TingPing 4y agoLinus is only one copyright holder. Only a court can decide that.
- pabs3 4y agoIf Conservancy win their latest court case, you wouldn't even need to be a copyright holder to sue for GPL compliance. https://sfconservancy.org/copyleft-compliance/vizio.html https://sfconservancy.org/copyleft-compliance/vizio.html
- klodolph 4y agoOne problem here is the difference between “complies with GPLv2” and “upstream”. I can dump a bunch of ugly driver code into an old version of Linux, backport some features that I care about from newer kernel versions, and then give you a tarball with the sources and a GPLv2 license. Is that compliant? Yes. Is it gonna get upstreamed? No.
- yjftsjthsd-h 4y agoExactly; it's my understanding at least that most vendors do release their code - it's just that the code tends to be awful and will never get upstreamed as-is, so it's not as useful as you might wish. Still has some value, still complies with the GPL, but nowhere near "lets the phone run on mainline Linux" (which is super rare except for IIRC some Sony phones).