Re: Using GPL'd Linux drivers with non-GPL, binary-only kernel

[Alan Cox]

> What if this new-fangled other kernel is open source, but BSD license
> instead?  Would that also anger the kernel developers?  (As I suspect
> a closed-source binary kernel would, even if one could get away with it).

Then the combined result would be a GPL'd product. You can do that now.
Add BSD code to GPL and the result comes out GPL.

> Then, you can (a) rewrite everything, using the knowledge you gained
> from reading the various open source drivers, or (b) just use those
> drivers, and save a lot of effort.

The GPL says "you can use them if your final new result is GPL", the BSD
world says "Hey go do it, just say thanks". Its probably a lot simpler
to use the FreeBSD code if you don't want a GPL result.

For myself I'd be willing to discuss relicensing code in some cases but
there is little that has a single author. 

Alan