Torvalds quashes binary kernel module revolt
The issue of whether binary-only kernel modules violate the GPL cropped up again this month on the Linux kernel mailing list, where Linus Torvalds thwarted an effort to ban them. Torvalds called banning binary modules "stupid," and told kernel hackers they should base decisions on technical merit, not political agendas. The flap shows Torvalds has not abandoned his pragmatism or frankness, nor his viewpoint that not all drivers are "derived works" based on the Linux kernel or other drivers. The flap also demonstrates that many kernel developers continue to feel that loading non-GPL drivers violates the GPLv2 license and their copyrights.
It all began yesterday, when Martin Bligh wrote, "So let's come out and ban binary modules, rather than pussyfooting around, if that's what we actually want to do."
