----- Original Message ----- From: "Marcus Brinkmann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, January 04, 2002 9:15 PM Subject: Re: linking to GPL'd libraries WAS Re: One unclear point in the Vim license
> On Fri, Jan 04, 2002 at 05:22:07PM +1100, Hamish Moffatt wrote: > > For example, the kernel is GPLed but will load and run programs > > with incompatible licenses. Those programs make syscalls to > > the kernel to perform system work; how is this permitted? > > It is so different from an incompatibly-licensed program linking > > to a GPLed library? > > And Linus Torvald has added a statement just before the GPL in the file > COPYING at the top level directory of the kernel source tree that makes it > clear that he thinks that user level programs that only use syscalls to > communicate with the kernel are considered to be using the kernel in a > normal way. Best on the quality information that I have gained following these discussions -- thank you -- to say the same thing that you have Marcus a little bit different. The kernel is not strictly GPL'd, but GPL-compatible. That clause that says system calls are a-ok, supports the moral/legal intention of the GPL by requiring such a declariation to be explicit. Correct? Best regards, Lloyd __________________________________________________________ Get your FREE personalized e-mail at http://www.canada.com
