From owner-freebsd-current@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Dec 27 03:42:37 2011 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-current@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 670A7106564A for ; Tue, 27 Dec 2011 03:42:37 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from rmacklem@uoguelph.ca) Received: from esa-annu.mail.uoguelph.ca (esa-annu.mail.uoguelph.ca [131.104.91.36]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 215E08FC08 for ; Tue, 27 Dec 2011 03:42:36 +0000 (UTC) X-IronPort-Anti-Spam-Filtered: true X-IronPort-Anti-Spam-Result: Ap4EACk++U6DaFvO/2dsb2JhbABDhQ+kFoQoghxLQAINGQJyFJ1kjgKRGIEviUqBFgSIN4xLklI X-IronPort-AV: E=Sophos;i="4.71,413,1320642000"; d="scan'208";a="149973152" Received: from erie.cs.uoguelph.ca (HELO zcs3.mail.uoguelph.ca) ([131.104.91.206]) by esa-annu-pri.mail.uoguelph.ca with ESMTP; 26 Dec 2011 22:42:36 -0500 Received: from zcs3.mail.uoguelph.ca (localhost.localdomain [127.0.0.1]) by zcs3.mail.uoguelph.ca (Postfix) with ESMTP id 28F25B3EA4 for ; Mon, 26 Dec 2011 22:42:36 -0500 (EST) Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 22:42:36 -0500 (EST) From: Rick Macklem To: freebsd-current@freebsd.org Message-ID: <2003190153.640689.1324957356113.JavaMail.root@erie.cs.uoguelph.ca> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Originating-IP: [172.17.91.203] X-Mailer: Zimbra 6.0.10_GA_2692 (ZimbraWebClient - FF3.0 (Win)/6.0.10_GA_2692) Subject: license question w.r.t. NFSv4.1 Layout drivers - calling all amateur lawyers X-BeenThere: freebsd-current@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Discussions about the use of FreeBSD-current List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2011 03:42:37 -0000 First off, I had no idea which mailing list would be appropriate for this, so apologies in advance if I chose the wrong one. For NFSv4.1 pNFS, there are layout drivers in Linux that I would like to reuse for the FreeBSD client. (Re-writing these drivers from scratch would be a lot of work and difficult to maintain. The Linux drivers are being actively developed with the assistance of server vendors.) Two of these drivers carry a University of Michigan copyright notice which looks pretty liberal to me. (Rather similar to MIT's copyright.) I realize it would have to be approved by core@, but I think it could be. (The 3rd is GPLv2'd, but that one doesn't concern me at this time. I believe that Panasas might be able to release the code for this one under a different license, but haven't explored this as of yet.) However, there is a catch... After the copyright notice on the .c files, but not the .h files, there is also this: MODULE_LICENSE("GPL"); and in linux/module.h, there is the following for the above: /* * The following license idents are currently accepted as indicating free * software modules * * "GPL" [GNU Public License v2 or later] * "GPL v2" [GNU Public License v2] * "GPL and additional rights" [GNU Public License v2 rights and more] * "Dual BSD/GPL" [GNU Public License v2 * or BSD license choice] * "Dual MIT/GPL" [GNU Public License v2 * or MIT license choice] * "Dual MPL/GPL" [GNU Public License v2 * or Mozilla license choice] * * The following other idents are available * * "Proprietary" [Non free products] * * There are dual licensed components, but when running with Linux it is the * GPL that is relevant so this is a non issue. Similarly LGPL linked with GPL * is a GPL combined work. * * This exists for several reasons * 1. So modinfo can show license info for users wanting to vet their setup * is free * 2. So the community can ignore bug reports including proprietary modules * 3. So vendors can do likewise based on their own policies */ #define MODULE_LICENSE(_license) MODULE_INFO(license, _license) Now, from what little I know, this does not imply that the .c file is GPL'd, since it doesn't have any GPL copyright notice in the file, nor does it #include one via MODULE_LICENSE(). Does anyone happen to know if I am correct or how to confirm this? Thanks in advance for any help with this, rick ps: Here's what's on the .c file, in case you're interested. The .h files just have what is in the comment. /* * Module for the pnfs nfs4 file layout driver. * Defines all I/O and Policy interface operations, plus code * to register itself with the pNFS client. * * Copyright (c) 2002 * The Regents of the University of Michigan * All Rights Reserved * * Dean Hildebrand * * Permission is granted to use, copy, create derivative works, and * redistribute this software and such derivative works for any purpose, * so long as the name of the University of Michigan is not used in * any advertising or publicity pertaining to the use or distribution * of this software without specific, written prior authorization. If * the above copyright notice or any other identification of the * University of Michigan is included in any copy of any portion of * this software, then the disclaimer below must also be included. * * This software is provided as is, without representation or warranty * of any kind either express or implied, including without limitation * the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular * purpose, or noninfringement. The Regents of the University of * Michigan shall not be liable for any damages, including special, * indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, with respect to any * claim arising out of or in connection with the use of the software, * even if it has been or is hereafter advised of the possibility of * such damages. */ #include #include #include #include "internal.h" #include "nfs4filelayout.h" #define NFSDBG_FACILITY NFSDBG_PNFS_LD MODULE_LICENSE("GPL"); MODULE_AUTHOR("Dean Hildebrand "); MODULE_DESCRIPTION("The NFSv4 file layout driver");