Re: [PATCH] make LSM register functions GPLonly exports

[Richard B. Johnson]

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On Thu, 17 Oct 2002, Christoph Hellwig wrote:

> On Thu, Oct 17, 2002 at 09:51:06AM -0700, Crispin Cowan wrote:
> > My argument against the intent of this change is that no, I do not think 
> > we should restrict LSM modules to be GPL-only. LSM is an API for loading 
> > externally developed packages of software, similar to syscalls. There is 
> > benefit in permitting proprietary modules (you get additional modules 
> > that you would not get otherwise) just as there is benefit in permitting 
> > proprietary applications (you get Oracle, DB2, and WordPerfect).
> 
> My arguement is that I want this flag as a hint for authors of
> propritary security modules that I'm going to sue them if they
> use hook called from code I have copyright on.  This includes such
> central parts as vfs_read/vfs_write.

There is no way of preventing authors from using "your" code once
you publish it. They just can't claim that they wrote it without
violating copyright law. Copyrights and Licensing are two different
independent things. See a Lawyer.

The attached 'C' program, when linked with any proprietary module,
will bypass all the  "EXPORT_GPL_ONLY" and similar "SCREW_YOU" macros.
To prevent using this or other similar work-arounds to road-blocks
thrown in the way of users, you would have to get GNU 'ld' to prevent
partial linking and make sure that all old copies have been destroyed.

This, by example, shows that "GPL Only" is unenforceable.  I suggest
that all the "GPL only" zealots try something new (like more good code),
rather than attempting to prevent honest workers from using code
they helped develop.

Cheers,
Dick Johnson
Penguin : Linux version 2.4.18 on an i686 machine (797.90 BogoMips).
The US military has given us many words, FUBAR, SNAFU, now ENRON.
Yes, top management were graduates of West Point and Annapolis.

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