Alfred M. Szmidt
@Unn0wn > I think this also allows non-GPL kernel like BSDs to use GPL Linux drivers without being GPL themselves.
No, that is not the case.
You can have non-free software modules that can be used in Linux, but they need to be declared specially.
A separate kernel, would not be using the linking exception, and would need to be licensed under compatible terms.
Enrico
@eruwero @Fireforger @thibaultamartin it’s my understanding that Linus’ argument for the legality of eg nvidia drivers is that it’s pre-existing software made to work with Linux. But arguing that modern day mobile SOCs are not made specifically to run with Linux is absurd, especially if the drivers are ONLY made for Linux. Therefore they are derivative of the Linux kernel, they link to the Linux kernel, they should be GPL. IMO
Ogey Rrat
@illogical_me @eruwero @Fireforger @thibaultamartin I think Linux have an exception that allows non-gpl compatible drivers to link with certain APIs without violating the license. I think this also allows non-GPL kernel like BSDs to use GPL Linux drivers without being GPL themselves.
eruwero
@illogical_me @Fireforger @thibaultamartin I'm not sure proprietary drivers are a GPL violation, the standard Linux kernel also contains proprietary drivers but I guess it's fine because it's separate from GPL-licensed kernel itself. I wouldn't be surprised if there is some GPL violation though.
Enrico
@Fireforger @thibaultamartin except that EVERY single android device is shipping GPL violations in the form of closed drivers, thus delegitimising the GPL, and yeah you can fork it but what hardware will you run it on without drivers?
Omar Eldahan :mastodon:
@thibaultamartin I don't think that this is a particularly good take. Open source fundamentally means anyone can fork the source code and change it for any reason. Instead of VS Code, there's VS Codium. Instead of Android, there's a million alternatives BECAUSE it's open source.
I hate the direction that Google is taking to close down Android, but this has nothing to do with the license. In fact, it's the opposite.
Thib
People are slowly realizing that Android only weaponized open source licenses but was always meant to be a captive platform, like people are slowly realizing that VS Code has open source code but is a captive platform.
Open source licences are not enough. They’re regularly weaponized as a tech enthusiast trap.
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