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MODULE_LICENSE string for LGPL drivers?

DISCUSSION Joe English 2 participants 2 messages Apr 16, 2002

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Hello all,

What should I use for the MODULE_LICENSE() string in a driver that is distributed under the LGPL? "LGPL" isn't listed in include/linux/module.h as an "untainted" license, so should I use "GPL and additional rights" instead?

I don't *think* I'm running into problems with EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL -- the driver has been working fine under 2.4 kernels
and I only recently found out about MODULE_LICENSE and *that* whole mess -- but am not sure, since I've also got an older version of modutils which probably isn't performing the taint check.

Unfortunately switching to the GPL is not an option; the driver was written for a third party and must be distributed with firmware (proprietary, binary-only) and client libraries (source available but still proprietary) over whose license terms I have no control.

Alternately, I could just let it taint the kernel.

Thanks for any advice. Cc:'s to [email protected] will be appreciated; I am not subscribed to this list, but will try to keep up via the web archives.

--Joe English

[email protected]

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What should I use for the MODULE_LICENSE() string in a driver that is distributed under the LGPL? "LGPL" isn't listed in include/linux/module.h as an "untainted" license, so should I

When LGPL code is linked with GPL code then the result becomes GPL. So once you have the code combined with the kernel it is GPL unless its a seperate work.

Alan