>
>
> Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2011 14:40:04 -0500
> From: Chris Penn <cantorm...@gmail.com>
> Subject: [LinuxUsers] Google: RMS to the Rescue
> To: SoCal LUG Users List <linuxusers@socallinux.org>
> Message-ID:
> <aanlktik63dgy5ske+wkhmbhqvxsooecj0t_vgfiu0...@mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> It seems that Google is saved from GPL violations...
> http://lkml.indiana.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0301.1/0362.html
>
> "In this email from 2003, Richard Stallman says 'I've talked with our
> lawyer about one specific issue that you raised: that of using simple
> material from header files. Someone recently made the claim that
> including a header file always makes a derivative work. That's not the
> FSF's view. Our view is that just using structure definitions,
> typedefs, enumeration constants, macros with simple bodies, etc., is
> NOT enough to make a derivative work. It would take a substantial
> amount of code (coming from inline functions or macros with
> substantial bodies) to do that.' This should help end the recent FUD
> about the Android 'clean headers.'"
>
>
> Chris...
>
>
I just read this from you Chris, my previous reply to Todd, who also copied and
pasted this quote from RMS, still applies to your answer. :)
The key here is "macros with simple bodies" and "substancial amount of code".
IMHO these are not simple bodies because and since we are talking about a crap
load of headers - that qualifies as substancial.
Nevertheless, it is up to the copyright holders to decide whether they want to
bring this up as an issue, not the FSF nor RMS, and I find it highly unlikely
that Linus and crew would want to call foul on Google. But of course, it only
takes one crazy GPL radical that wants to turn the gray area to black and white.
There are other similar issues to this in other parts of the stack (BlueZ -
bluetooth stack), but they implications are much much much lower.
Ragi
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