Three kinds of packages

[Alan Cox]

> > of the closed source kernel modules are of questionable legality (and
> > not just in the US), because they may be derived works of the Linux
> > kernel.  A derived work of the kernel must be GPLv2, which can't be
> > closed source.
> > 
> 
> Why aren't they then being prosecuted? Too costly?

Various companies have been sued in Germany (where the law is actually
based more on evidence than wallet size). The case of binary kernel
modules is however very complicated and you also have to ask the question
"would it help to...".

Plus quite frankly there are enough people ripping off the Linux kernel
and other free software projects blatantly right now to put complex
questions about modules low down the list of easy to win cases.