Legal Issues

Legal Issues using Linux in embedded projects

The intricacies of using the GPL license have been hashed out repeatedly in many other forums. [references would be nice for major issues]

This page has a few specific issues relating to embedded use of Linux.

EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL

EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL for kernel USB API

In January of 2008, Greg Kroah Hartman submitted a patch to change the core USB API to EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL. Here is some information about that change:

• USB: mark USB drivers as being GPL only (LWN.net)
• Linux 2.6.25 without Closed Source USB Drivers (Linux Magazine)
• USB drivers going GPL-only in 2.6.25 (LinuxWorld)
• the actual git commit