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Re: [laptop-discuss] Bringing Linux ath9k --> Solaris arn driver changes

Subject: Re: [laptop-discuss] Bringing Linux ath9k --> Solaris arn driver changes faster
From: Joerg Schilling
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:38:18 +0100
Jonathan Adams <t12nslookup@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Umm, the Linux ath9k driver is GPL, which means that it cannot be used
> in any Oracle/Solaris projects (if it is to be embedded with the
> kernel) and cannot be worked on by anyone who might write a driver for
> Solaris as they could bring GPL information in their heads to the new
> project.

Sorry, but this is nonsense.

A driver under GPL can of course be read and used as an inspiration for a new 
source. The Copyright law only protects a specific implementation but not a 
basic idea behind the code.

It may however be that such a work cannot be done legally by an US citizen.

Jörg

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