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> If it's true that Samsung distributed this driver as part of the Linux kernel source code tree then it is arguably a derivative work of the Linux kernel. Oth
by scott_karana 13y ago
> If it's true that Samsung distributed this driver as part of the Linux kernel source code tree then it is arguably a derivative work of the Linux kernel.
Other companies use binary blobs in the Linux Kernel by using a GPL-compatible shim driver.
Samsung would be in violation of the GPL if they do not publish the source to the SHIM in a compatible license, but that would imply nothing about the binary blob.
Disclaimer: I'm not even sure whether they use the shim workaround in this case.
- bjornsing 13y agoUsually that thin layer of source code is under a proprietary license as well. The main reason to have it is actually not legal but technical: distributing kernel modules in binary form (.ko) separately from the kernel itself is a pain in the arse (bordering on impossible) since they depend on the exact version of the kernel and in some cases even the build config (e.g. skbuff size may depend on #ifdefs).