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
-
Juno Tab 3 Launches with Ubuntu 24.04
Anyone looking for a full-blown Linux tablet need look no further. Juno has released the Tab 3.
-
New KDE Slimbook Plasma Available for Preorder
Powered by an AMD Ryzen CPU, the latest KDE Slimbook laptop is powerful enough for local AI tasks.
-
Rhino Linux Announces Latest "Quick Update"
If you prefer your Linux distribution to be of the rolling type, Rhino Linux delivers a beautiful and reliable experience.
-
Plasma Desktop Will Soon Ask for Donations
The next iteration of Plasma has reached the soft feature freeze for the 6.2 version and includes a feature that could be divisive.
-
Linux Market Share Hits New High
For the first time, the Linux market share has reached a new high for desktops, and the trend looks like it will continue.
-
LibreOffice 24.8 Delivers New Features
LibreOffice is often considered the de facto standard office suite for the Linux operating system.
-
Deepin 23 Offers Wayland Support and New AI Tool
Deepin has been considered one of the most beautiful desktop operating systems for a long time and the arrival of version 23 has bolstered that reputation.
-
CachyOS Adds Support for System76's COSMIC Desktop
The August 2024 release of CachyOS includes support for the COSMIC desktop as well as some important bits for video.
-
Linux Foundation Adopts OMI to Foster Ethical LLMs
The Open Model Initiative hopes to create community LLMs that rival proprietary models but avoid restrictive licensing that limits usage.
-
Ubuntu 24.10 to Include the Latest Linux Kernel
Ubuntu users have grown accustomed to their favorite distribution shipping with a kernel that's not quite as up-to-date as other distros but that changes with 24.10.
Misleading article