[clug] The GPL and kernel modules

[Robert Edwards]

Hugh Fisher wrote:
...
> Of direct interest to at least one CLUG member, AFAIK neither
> Eben Moglen nor the SFLC have disputed the Wasabi article
> view that binary-only kernel modules are a violation of the
> GPL.

I'm wondering if it might not be technically feasible to move
some of these binary-only kernel modules into user-space and
provide necessary hooks across some virtualisation scheme into
kernel space to actually talk to the hardware? I know that so-
called micro-kernels take this approach. If someone where to
provide the necessary API, would it then violate the GPL to
have binary-only code working with that API across into the
kernel?

Just a random thought for the day.

Bob Edwards.

> 
>     cheers,
>     Hugh