Re: Kernel modules under new copyleft licence : (was Re: [PATCH v2] module.h: add copyleft-next >= 0.3.1 as GPL compatible)

From: Alan Cox
Date: Mon May 15 2017 - 11:18:33 EST


> such "or"
> language can be a bit confusing.ÂÂMy understanding is such "or"
> language is
> really is only necessary or helpful for when you have some sort of
> incompatible
> licenses, and that's not the case here.

The problem is that it takes a lawyer to decide whether the two are
compatible. If you just stuck the kernel one under GPLv2 with a note
that you can get a non-GPL one at URL or as dual licence it would be a
hell of a lot simpler.

There are reasons there is stuff under things like dual BSD/GPL. It
keeps lawyers happier because they don't have to spend time on it and
the rest of us happy because we don't have to talk to lawyers 8)

> Since the license *already explicitly states GPLv2 applies* when
> copyleft-next

Subject to getting your corporate legal team to evaluate it.

It's all hassle and friction.

Alan