On Tue, May 29, 2018 at 12:14:01PM -0700, Luis R. Rodriguez wrote: > The question over future possible PostgreSQL licensed code on Linux came up > to me recently. While doing some quick of digging around I found code > already under such license it seems: > > The file drivers/md/bcache/util.c has: > > cafe563591446 (Kent Overstreet 2013-03-23 16:11:31 -0700 318) /* > cafe563591446 (Kent Overstreet 2013-03-23 16:11:31 -0700 319) * Portions > Copyright (c) 1996-2001, PostgreSQL Global Development Group (Any > cafe563591446 (Kent Overstreet 2013-03-23 16:11:31 -0700 320) * use > permitted, subject to terms of PostgreSQL license; see.) > > That seems to indicate that we've had already PostgreSQL licensed code on > Linux since Kent's addition of bcache to Linux in 2013. The portion of code > is rather small though, to me it seems to cover only crc_table[], > bch_crc64_update(), and bch_crc64(). Four things: Yep, it's just that code. > > a) This is the only code on Linux which seems to use PostgreSQL > b) The language for license seem to be cut off, 'see.' seems incomplete, > whereas typically it would point to a file with the full language text. > c) We can only infer what portions of the file are under this license > d) Even though some licenses claim to be GPL-Compatible, if possible we > should dual license such with the GPL if possible (*) > > If some folks are considering adding yet more code to Linux which is > currently under a PostgreSQL license I figured reviewing the existing > PostgreSQL code's use may be a good start to set precedent for future work. > Since we already have at least one file with a PostgreSQL-sort-of boiler > plate it at least sets the precedent we have already sort of dealt with > PostgreSQL. > > My recommendations: > > As silly as it may be we should split out the PostgreSQL licensed code from > drivers/md/bcache/util.c into its own file and while at it clarify the > license. > > If possible, if we can dual license this code with GPL it would be good as > it would do two things: > > 1) Removes any ambiguity in case of questions over GPL Compatibility in the > future about the PostgreSQL license > > 2) Other folks considering using PostgreSQL licensed code on Linux have a > template they can use Sounds good to me, I'll defer to your judgement since you have more experience with these things than me :) Let me know if there's anything you need from me. I never modified that code besides renaming the functions, but dual licensing would be fine by me. -- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-bcache" in the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
