[3306] in linux-net channel archive
Re: Binary Driver Issues
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Dennis)
Tue Jun 18 18:48:06 1996
Date: Tue, 18 Jun 1996 14:15:36 -0400
To: Mike Kilburn <mike@lserv.conexio.co.za>
From: dennis@etinc.com (Dennis)
Cc: linux-net@vger.rutgers.edu
M. Kilburn writes....
>Or that anyone that writes a script for Linux for one
>> of their customers
>> machines and does not submit it is stealing?
>
>No. You misunderstand. You cant enhance the software and sell it without
>giving back source. Using it is no problem. And I am talking about the kernel.
>If you want to
>interface in user mode thru libc then binary only is OK. Linus has allowed
>this loophole in the kernel GPL but I dont agree with it.
>
It doesnt matter what he says, you cant license against add-ons. You can
put whatever you want in the document, but you cant enforce it so its
meaningless. You dont own the computer by running an O/S...you can
run anything on the computer you want that is compatible regardless of
whether Linus says you can or not. Even if you linked binaries directly
with the core kernel code itself. A licensor only has rights over their
own code. When you buy a development kit from Microsoft you're paying
for the information on how the O/S works. If you figure it out without the docs
or the kit they cant stop you from selling or using it because they didnt get
their fee.
Dennis
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