[ros-kernel] ReactOS GPL vs. proprietary drivers (affirmation)

From: Jan Kratochvil <rcpt-ros-kernel.AT.reactos.com@jankratochvil.net>
To: ros-general@reactos.com, ros-kernel@reactos.com
Date: 20/10/2003, 12:13


Hi,

As GPLed Linux-NTFS still has no NTFS r/w capability I completed the project
for reliable r/w access in Wine way by using MS-Windows ntfs.sys driver.

Captive-NTFS
http://www.jankratochvil.net/

My project is GPL-2.0 and it incorporates ReactOS kernel sources currently also
carrying GPL-2.0 license. There are rumours GPL may be problem for linking with
proprietary code (ntfs.sys&ntoskrnl.exe). I interpret it as GPL only affects
_distribution_ of the program while no proprietary code is distributed with my
package. Proprietary code is only run-time linked by the end-user.


In a GPL-related discussion here two monts ago ReactOS developers were open for
reusal of existing proprietary drivers for ReactOS as one of the significant
feature of ReactOS. I would like an affirmation from the major ReactOS
developers they are not going to try to sue me for releasing Captive NTFS.



Thanks,
Jan Kratochvil