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Linux developers discussing banning of ‘binary-only’ kernel modules
As LWN.net is reporting today [0], there is an ongoing discussion on the LKLM [1] about banning ‘binary-only’ Linux modules.
The real problems are not caused by ‘binary-only’ modules, but GPL-incompatible code being linked against GPL’ed code. From my understanding this does violate the GPL as linking A, a GPL licensed program, against B, which is licensed under a proprietary non-free license, does create a deriative work of A.
However, the suggested banning of proprietary and GPL-incompatible modules from being linked is a step forward.
It clearly would help stopping hardware vendors from ‘tricking’ users into violating the GPL by making them link proprietary modules against GPL’ed code themselves.
After all, I really like to see this happening now and hope that the Linux developers are finally going to stop others from violating kernel’s license.
[0] http://lwn.net/Articles/213977/
[1] http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel/475727