GPL Violation: Microsoft's Code Generosity with Strange Taste
Microsoft made headlines on July 20 with their release of a Hyper-V driver to the Linux kernel under GPL. Now it turns out that the driver violates the GPL free code stipulation by having a mix of proprietary and open source code.
Novell's kernel hacker and driver expert Greg Kroah-Hartman had worked with Microsoft to release the Hyper-V driver under GPLv2. Not an unusual thing for the head of the Linux Driver Project (LDP). His Linux Kernel Monkey Log may have gone into why Microsoft was compelled into the deal, but an update on the webpage points to an entry on the Linux Network Plumber website to "give a little more of the backstory of what caused me to start talking to Microsoft in the first place." Steve Hemminger, employed at network company Vyatta, hosts the Plumber website.
Hemminger congratulated Microsoft in his Plumber blog, but added that he stumbled on a Vyatta forum about the GPL components in Hyper-V and immediately informed Kroah-Hartman that "there was a problem." Kroah-Hartman then "prodded the right people" to resolve the issue. "It took longer than expected, but Microsoft finally decided to do the right thing and release the drivers," said Hemminger. Perhaps under different circumstances than were expected.
Comments
comments powered by DisqusSubscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Bugs Found in sudo
Two critical flaws allow users to gain access to root privileges.
-
Fedora Continues 32-Bit Support
In a move that should come as a relief to some portions of the Linux community, Fedora will continue supporting 32-bit architecture.
-
Linux Kernel 6.17 Drops bcachefs
After a clash over some late fixes and disagreements between bcachefs's lead developer and Linus Torvalds, bachefs is out.
-
ONLYOFFICE v9 Embraces AI
Like nearly all office suites on the market (except LibreOffice), ONLYOFFICE has decided to go the AI route.
-
Two Local Privilege Escalation Flaws Discovered in Linux
Qualys researchers have discovered two local privilege escalation vulnerabilities that allow hackers to gain root privileges on major Linux distributions.
-
New TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro Powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300
The TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen10 offers serious power that is ready for your business, development, or entertainment needs.
-
LibreOffice Tested as Possible Office 365 Alternative
Another major organization has decided to test the possibility of migrating from Microsoft's Office 365 to LibreOffice.
-
Linux Mint 20 Reaches EOL
With Linux Mint 20 at its end of life, the time has arrived to upgrade to Linux Mint 22.
-
TuxCare Announces Support for AlmaLinux 9.2
Thanks to TuxCare, AlmaLinux 9.2 (and soon version 9.6) now enjoys years of ongoing patching and compliance.
-
Go-Based Botnet Attacking IoT Devices
Using an SSH credential brute-force attack, the Go-based PumaBot is exploiting IoT devices everywhere.
Misleading article