[781]

But in Windows drivers are binary files which talk to the kernel through an API. Not much different than a binary user mode application. If binary user mode applications written in GPL are ok, then so should this.

[jcelerier]

> Not much different than a binary user mode application.

well, user-mode applications do syscalls to the kernel, not direct function calls.

[781]

But the actual syscall is made by a Windows user mode library - kernel32.dll/... So your GPL user mode app calls directly into proprietary Windows library.

[temac]

That is specifically allowed by the GNU GPL. See "System Libraries" and adjacent paragraphs.

[nathell]

There is a mention of "System Libraries" in GPLv3, but not GPLv2, which the Linux kernel is licensed under.

[temac]

There are similar provisions in GPLv2.