Re: [ECOS] Newbie question on ECOS modifications..

[Andrew Lunn <andrew at lunn dot ch>]

On Mon, Apr 11, 2005 at 05:14:25PM -0700, rramesh@connextechnology.com wrote:
> Hi all, 
> Chapter 1 of eCos User?s Guide states the following:
> ?? eCos is distributed under the GPL license with an exception which permits
> proprietary application code to be linked with eCos without itself being
> forced to be released under the GPL. It is also royalty and buyout free.
> 
> I would like to know does this rule apply to eCos ports to different
> platforms, processor etc.? In other words, is the result of a porting
> exercise also falls under GPL? For example, x86 version of eCos has SMP
> support. If some one attempts to get SMP going for another platform, does
> that code fall under GPL as well? I think it does... I want to make sure. 

If you use existing modGPL code when doing the work then yes, the new
port is modGPL. This is the typical way of doing it, ie if you were to
say make an SMP port for the PPC and you used the x86 code as a basis,
your port would be modGPL.

If you can do a port without using existing modGPL code, ie only using
the documentation, your new code could then in theory be licensed with
a different license. But only your new code. The rest of eCos
obviously remains modGPL.

BTW: IANAL.

        Andrew

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