[U-Boot] [EXT] Re: Cavium/Marvell Octeon Support

[Wolfgang Denk]

Dear Aaron,

In message <5376617.97hUrJXovB at flash> you wrote:
>
> > Again you don't answer my question.  Why do you need a special new
> > API for such code?  Why do you not just link that code with the rest
> > of U-Boot?
>
> The code in question that is calling the API is not GPL and hence cannot be 
> linked with U-Boot though the phy code is GPL.

Ouch.  I was afraid to hear that.

Please be aware that your newly created API does NOT implement a GPL
license exception.  the only interface that allows for non-GPL code
to be run under control of U-Boot is the standalone program
interface, which is intentionally very restricted.

In other words: what you are doing here is a clear (and intentional,
which makes it even worse) GPL license violation.

> > It has been mentioned before, but just to be sure: this code which
> > uses your new API is licensed under a GPLv2 conforming lincense?
> > 
> There should be no need. None of the code is linked against U-Boot, either at 
> compile time nor at runtime. The application doesn't even know where it is 
> located except by looking for a named block of memory.

It does not have to be linked.  You access internal interfaces of
U-Boot that have not been exported for non-GPL use, so your code
still has to be licensed under GPLv2 or a compatible license.

Best regards,

Wolfgang Denk

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