Re: [PATCH 2.6.1 -- take two] Add CRC32C chksums to crypto and libroutines

[Clay Haapala]

On Tue, 3 Feb 2004, Matt Mackall said:
> On Tue, Feb 03, 2004 at 05:25:08PM -0600, Matt Domsch wrote:
>> > >> +MODULE_LICENSE("GPL and additional rights");
>> > > 
>> > > "additional rights?"
>> > > 
>> > Take it up with Matt_Domsch@xxxxxxxx -- it's his code that I
>> > cribbed, so that's the license line I used.
>> 
>> The crc32 code came from linux@xxxxxxxxxxx with the following
>> copyright abandonment disclaimer, which is still in lib/crc32.c:
>> 
>> /*
>>  * This code is in the public domain; copyright abandoned.
>>  * Liability for non-performance of this code is limited to the
>>  * amount you paid for it.  Since it is distributed for free, your
>>  * refund will be very very small.  If it breaks, you get to keep
>>  * both pieces.  */
>> 
>> Thus GPL plus additional rights is appropriate.
> 
> Ok, makes sense for CRC32 stuff which can be easily lifted from the
> kernel or 50 other places, but not for stuff that's depends on
> cryptoapi.

Matt is correct about crypto/crc32c.c -- that should be simply "GPL".

As for the derived-from-public-domain-CRC32 stuff, should one even
claim "GPL" on it?  That would be, in effect, licensing public-domain
code and placing restrictions on it, something only a copyright holder
should be able to do, and not the intent of the author, in this case.
-- 
Clay Haapala (chaapala@xxxxxxxxx) Cisco Systems SRBU +1 763-398-1056
   6450 Wedgwood Rd, Suite 130 Maple Grove MN 55311 PGP: C89240AD
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