Re: Use of GPL'd code with proprietary programs

[David Kastrup]

John Hasler <john@dhh.gt.org> writes:

> David Kastrup writes:
> > Suing for possible traces of some different architecture that might or
> > might not be present in the current code would not really be a sound
> > case.
> 
> From a 2.6 kernel tree:
> 
> arch/sparc/lib/memset.S: * Copyright (C) 1991,1996 Free Software Foundation
> arch/sparc/lib/strlen_user.S: * Copyright (C) 1991,1996 Free Software 
> Foundation
> arch/sparc/lib/strlen.S: * Copyright (C) 1991,1996 Free Software Foundation
> arch/sparc/lib/divdi3.S:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/sparc/lib/muldi3.S:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/sparc/lib/memcpy.S: * Copyright (C) 1991,1996 Free Software Foundation
> arch/sparc/lib/udivdi3.S:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/m68knommu/lib/modsi3.S:   Copyright (C) 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/m68knommu/lib/ashldi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> arch/m68knommu/lib/divsi3.S:   Copyright (C) 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/m68knommu/lib/ashrdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 
> Free Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/m68knommu/lib/umodsi3.S:   Copyright (C) 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/m68knommu/lib/lshrdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 
> Free Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/m68knommu/lib/muldi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 
> Free Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/m68knommu/lib/udivsi3.S:   Copyright (C) 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/m68knommu/lib/mulsi3.S:   Copyright (C) 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/sparc64/lib/strlen.S: * Copyright (C) 1991,1996 Free Software Foundation
> arch/sparc64/lib/strlen_user.S: * Copyright (C) 1991,1996 Free Software 
> Foundation
> arch/ppc/boot/include/rs6000.h:   Copyright (C) 1990, 1991 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> arch/ppc/math-emu/sfp-machine.h:   Copyright (C) 1997 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> arch/ppc/xmon/ppc-opc.c:   Copyright 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/ppc/xmon/ppc-dis.c:   Copyright 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/ppc/xmon/ppc.h:   Copyright 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/ppc/xmon/ansidecl.h:   Copyright 1991, 1992 Free Software Foundation, 
> Inc.
> arch/arm26/lib/udivdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> arch/arm26/lib/ashldi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> arch/arm26/lib/ucmpdi2.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> arch/arm26/lib/lshrdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> arch/arm26/lib/lib1funcs.S:/* Copyright (C) 1995, 1996, 1998 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> arch/arm26/lib/longlong.h:   Copyright (C) 1991, 92, 94, 95, 96, 1997, 1998 
> Free Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/arm26/lib/muldi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> arch/arm26/lib/ashrdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> arch/m68k/lib/ashldi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> arch/m68k/lib/ashrdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/m68k/lib/muldi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/m68k/lib/lshrdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/alpha/lib/memchr.S:/* Copyright (C) 1996 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/alpha/math-emu/qrnnd.S: # Copyright (C) 1992, 1994, 1995, 2000 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/ppc64/xmon/ppc-dis.c:   Copyright 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/ppc64/xmon/ppc.h:   Copyright 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/ppc64/xmon/ansidecl.h:   Copyright 1991, 1992 Free Software Foundation, 
> Inc.
> arch/ppc64/xmon/ppc-opc.c:   Copyright 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/arm/lib/ucmpdi2.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> arch/arm/lib/muldi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> arch/arm/lib/lib1funcs.S:/* Copyright 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/arm/lib/longlong.h:   Copyright (C) 1991, 92, 94, 95, 96, 1997, 1998 
> Free Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/arm/lib/udivdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> arch/arm/lib/lshrdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> arch/arm/lib/ashldi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> arch/arm/lib/ashrdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> arch/parisc/lib/memset.c:/* Copyright (C) 1991, 1997 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> arch/h8300/lib/ashrdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/v850/lib/muldi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2001 
> Free Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/v850/lib/lshrdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/v850/lib/ashrdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> arch/v850/lib/ashldi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> crypto/cast5.c:* Copyright (C) 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> drivers/net/e1000/LICENSE:Copyright (C) 1989, 1991 Free Software Foundation, 
> Inc.  
> drivers/net/e1000/LICENSE:    for permission. For software which is 
> copyrighted by the Free Software 
> drivers/atm/nicstarmac.copyright: *   the Free Software Foundation; either 
> version 2 of the License, or
> fs/udf/udftime.c:/* Copyright (C) 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> include/asm-parisc/rtc.h://   Copyright (C) 1991, 1993, 1997, 1998 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> include/asm-sparc/sfp-machine.h:   Copyright (C) 1997,1998,1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> include/asm-alpha/sfp-machine.h:   Copyright (C) 1997,1998,1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> include/asm-s390/sfp-machine.h:   Copyright (C) 1997,1998,1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> include/asm-sparc64/sfp-machine.h:   Copyright (C) 1997,1998,1999 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> include/math-emu/extended.h:   Copyright (C) 1999 Free Software Foundation, 
> Inc.
> include/math-emu/op-1.h:   Copyright (C) 1997,1998,1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> include/math-emu/quad.h:   Copyright (C) 1997,1998,1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> include/math-emu/op-common.h:   Copyright (C) 1997,1998,1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> include/math-emu/single.h:   Copyright (C) 1997,1998,1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> include/math-emu/op-2.h:   Copyright (C) 1997,1998,1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> include/math-emu/op-8.h:   Copyright (C) 1997,1998,1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> include/math-emu/op-4.h:   Copyright (C) 1997,1998,1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> include/math-emu/soft-fp.h:   Copyright (C) 1997,1998,1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> include/math-emu/double.h:   Copyright (C) 1997,1998,1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> prio:arch/m68knommu/lib/ashldi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> prio:arch/arm26/lib/udivdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> prio:arch/arm26/lib/ashldi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> prio:arch/arm26/lib/ucmpdi2.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> prio:arch/arm26/lib/lshrdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> prio:arch/arm26/lib/muldi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> prio:arch/arm26/lib/ashrdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> prio:arch/m68k/lib/ashldi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> prio:arch/arm/lib/ucmpdi2.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> prio:arch/arm/lib/muldi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> prio:arch/arm/lib/udivdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> prio:arch/arm/lib/lshrdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> prio:arch/arm/lib/ashldi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> prio:arch/arm/lib/ashrdi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> prio:arch/v850/lib/ashldi3.c:/* Copyright (C) 1989, 92-98, 1999 Free Software 
> Foundation, Inc.
> scripts/kconfig/zconf.tab.c_shipped:   Copyright (C) 1984, 1989, 1990, 2000, 
> 2001, 2002, 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
> scripts/kconfig/zconf.tab.h_shipped:   Copyright (C) 1984, 1989, 1990, 2000, 
> 2001, 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
> scripts/genksyms/parse.c_shipped:   Copyright (C) 1984, 1989, 1990 Free 
> Software Foundation, Inc.
> 
> > If_ they had relevant portions under copyright in the kernel, they
> > could probably ask for an injunction that the kernel sources are
> > also distributed on-demand by Tivo.  But since they are pretty
> > much available everywhere, there is not that much to be gained by
> > the FSF.  Pretty pointless case.
> 
> The point would be to make Tivo's changes available, and that mostly
> to set a precedent.

You are aware that most of the stuff is in other architectures, and
besides taken from glibc or the gcc runtime?

For setting a precedent, they should probably not choose a case where
their contributions are at best marginal and not under the GPL,
anyway.

-- 
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum