Re: Using GPL'd Linux drivers with non-GPL, binary-only kernel

[Alan Cox]

On Maw, 2003-05-06 at 23:31, Jamie Lokier wrote:
> I understand the licensing in unambiguous causes, and I'm not trying
> to find loopholes in awkward corners.  I'm just observing that, as
> closed-source binary modules are de facto accepted (with some funky
> rules about which interfaces they can use), the same in reverse
> _ought_ to be accepted to the same degree: Linux (and other) GPL'd
> modules as satellites around a non-GPL kernel.

Actually at least two contributors of note disagree in the general case
about binary modules - except when the legal test holds that they are
not a derivative work. You'll find Linus comments boil down to much that
as well - the EXPORT_SYMBOL stuff is merely guidance.