@somekindahate3 The kernel, Linux contains proprietary software in the form of object code under a proprietary license, so it's therefore proprietary software.

Although there are more, two examples of this are:
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/net/appletalk/cops_ffdrv.h
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/net/appletalk/cops_ltdrv.h

Linux's developers don't even claim that Linux is completely under the GPLv2, they say that some parts are GPLv2'd and some parts are under different licenses (even though the GPLv2 doesn't even allow that - although certain parts can be under different licenses, the GPLv2 must apply to the whole lot in combination, which can happen only if the other licenses are compatible and proprietary licenses are *not*).

If you distribute Mr Torvalds version of Linux, you may have permanently lost your license to distribute Linux due to the proprietary software within (sadly the GPLv2 doesn't handle accidentally infringement well, every copyright holder has to choose to reinstate your license).


If you want a free version of Linux, you need to go for GNU Linux-libre: https://www.fsfla.org/ikiwiki/selibre/linux-libre/