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diff --git a/Documentation/process/license-rules.rst b/Documentation/process/license-rules.rst new file mode 100644 index 000000000..8ea26325f --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/process/license-rules.rst @@ -0,0 +1,372 @@ +.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 + +Linux kernel licensing rules +============================ + +The Linux Kernel is provided under the terms of the GNU General Public +License version 2 only (GPL-2.0), as provided in LICENSES/preferred/GPL-2.0, +with an explicit syscall exception described in +LICENSES/exceptions/Linux-syscall-note, as described in the COPYING file. + +This documentation file provides a description of how each source file +should be annotated to make its license clear and unambiguous. +It doesn't replace the Kernel's license. + +The license described in the COPYING file applies to the kernel source +as a whole, though individual source files can have a different license +which is required to be compatible with the GPL-2.0:: + + GPL-1.0+ : GNU General Public License v1.0 or later + GPL-2.0+ : GNU General Public License v2.0 or later + LGPL-2.0 : GNU Library General Public License v2 only + LGPL-2.0+ : GNU Library General Public License v2 or later + LGPL-2.1 : GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1 only + LGPL-2.1+ : GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1 or later + +Aside from that, individual files can be provided under a dual license, +e.g. one of the compatible GPL variants and alternatively under a +permissive license like BSD, MIT etc. + +The User-space API (UAPI) header files, which describe the interface of +user-space programs to the kernel are a special case. According to the +note in the kernel COPYING file, the syscall interface is a clear boundary, +which does not extend the GPL requirements to any software which uses it to +communicate with the kernel. Because the UAPI headers must be includable +into any source files which create an executable running on the Linux +kernel, the exception must be documented by a special license expression. + +The common way of expressing the license of a source file is to add the +matching boilerplate text into the top comment of the file. Due to +formatting, typos etc. these "boilerplates" are hard to validate for +tools which are used in the context of license compliance. + +An alternative to boilerplate text is the use of Software Package Data +Exchange (SPDX) license identifiers in each source file. SPDX license +identifiers are machine parsable and precise shorthands for the license +under which the content of the file is contributed. SPDX license +identifiers are managed by the SPDX Workgroup at the Linux Foundation and +have been agreed on by partners throughout the industry, tool vendors, and +legal teams. For further information see https://spdx.org/ + +The Linux kernel requires the precise SPDX identifier in all source files. +The valid identifiers used in the kernel are explained in the section +`License identifiers`_ and have been retrieved from the official SPDX +license list at https://spdx.org/licenses/ along with the license texts. + +License identifier syntax +------------------------- + +1. Placement: + + The SPDX license identifier in kernel files shall be added at the first + possible line in a file which can contain a comment. For the majority + or files this is the first line, except for scripts which require the + '#!PATH_TO_INTERPRETER' in the first line. For those scripts the SPDX + identifier goes into the second line. + +| + +2. Style: + + The SPDX license identifier is added in form of a comment. The comment + style depends on the file type:: + + C source: // SPDX-License-Identifier: <SPDX License Expression> + C header: /* SPDX-License-Identifier: <SPDX License Expression> */ + ASM: /* SPDX-License-Identifier: <SPDX License Expression> */ + scripts: # SPDX-License-Identifier: <SPDX License Expression> + .rst: .. SPDX-License-Identifier: <SPDX License Expression> + .dts{i}: // SPDX-License-Identifier: <SPDX License Expression> + + If a specific tool cannot handle the standard comment style, then the + appropriate comment mechanism which the tool accepts shall be used. This + is the reason for having the "/\* \*/" style comment in C header + files. There was build breakage observed with generated .lds files where + 'ld' failed to parse the C++ comment. This has been fixed by now, but + there are still older assembler tools which cannot handle C++ style + comments. + +| + +3. Syntax: + + A <SPDX License Expression> is either an SPDX short form license + identifier found on the SPDX License List, or the combination of two + SPDX short form license identifiers separated by "WITH" when a license + exception applies. When multiple licenses apply, an expression consists + of keywords "AND", "OR" separating sub-expressions and surrounded by + "(", ")" . + + License identifiers for licenses like [L]GPL with the 'or later' option + are constructed by using a "+" for indicating the 'or later' option.:: + + // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0+ + // SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1+ + + WITH should be used when there is a modifier to a license needed. + For example, the linux kernel UAPI files use the expression:: + + // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note + // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0+ WITH Linux-syscall-note + + Other examples using WITH exceptions found in the kernel are:: + + // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH mif-exception + // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0+ WITH GCC-exception-2.0 + + Exceptions can only be used with particular License identifiers. The + valid License identifiers are listed in the tags of the exception text + file. For details see the point `Exceptions`_ in the chapter `License + identifiers`_. + + OR should be used if the file is dual licensed and only one license is + to be selected. For example, some dtsi files are available under dual + licenses:: + + // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 OR BSD-3-Clause + + Examples from the kernel for license expressions in dual licensed files:: + + // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 OR MIT + // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 OR BSD-2-Clause + // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 OR Apache-2.0 + // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 OR MPL-1.1 + // SPDX-License-Identifier: (GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note) OR MIT + // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-1.0+ OR BSD-3-Clause OR OpenSSL + + AND should be used if the file has multiple licenses whose terms all + apply to use the file. For example, if code is inherited from another + project and permission has been given to put it in the kernel, but the + original license terms need to remain in effect:: + + // SPDX-License-Identifier: (GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note) AND MIT + + Another other example where both sets of license terms need to be + adhered to is:: + + // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-1.0+ AND LGPL-2.1+ + +License identifiers +------------------- + +The licenses currently used, as well as the licenses for code added to the +kernel, can be broken down into: + +1. _`Preferred licenses`: + + Whenever possible these licenses should be used as they are known to be + fully compatible and widely used. These licenses are available from the + directory:: + + LICENSES/preferred/ + + in the kernel source tree. + + The files in this directory contain the full license text and + `Metatags`_. The file names are identical to the SPDX license + identifier which shall be used for the license in source files. + + Examples:: + + LICENSES/preferred/GPL-2.0 + + Contains the GPL version 2 license text and the required metatags:: + + LICENSES/preferred/MIT + + Contains the MIT license text and the required metatags + + _`Metatags`: + + The following meta tags must be available in a license file: + + - Valid-License-Identifier: + + One or more lines which declare which License Identifiers are valid + inside the project to reference this particular license text. Usually + this is a single valid identifier, but e.g. for licenses with the 'or + later' options two identifiers are valid. + + - SPDX-URL: + + The URL of the SPDX page which contains additional information related + to the license. + + - Usage-Guidance: + + Freeform text for usage advice. The text must include correct examples + for the SPDX license identifiers as they should be put into source + files according to the `License identifier syntax`_ guidelines. + + - License-Text: + + All text after this tag is treated as the original license text + + File format examples:: + + Valid-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 + Valid-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0+ + SPDX-URL: https://spdx.org/licenses/GPL-2.0.html + Usage-Guide: + To use this license in source code, put one of the following SPDX + tag/value pairs into a comment according to the placement + guidelines in the licensing rules documentation. + For 'GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2 only' use: + SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 + For 'GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2 or any later version' use: + SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0+ + License-Text: + Full license text + + :: + + SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT + SPDX-URL: https://spdx.org/licenses/MIT.html + Usage-Guide: + To use this license in source code, put the following SPDX + tag/value pair into a comment according to the placement + guidelines in the licensing rules documentation. + SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT + License-Text: + Full license text + +| + +2. Not recommended licenses: + + These licenses should only be used for existing code or for importing + code from a different project. These licenses are available from the + directory:: + + LICENSES/other/ + + in the kernel source tree. + + The files in this directory contain the full license text and + `Metatags`_. The file names are identical to the SPDX license + identifier which shall be used for the license in source files. + + Examples:: + + LICENSES/other/ISC + + Contains the Internet Systems Consortium license text and the required + metatags:: + + LICENSES/other/ZLib + + Contains the ZLIB license text and the required metatags. + + Metatags: + + The metatag requirements for 'other' licenses are identical to the + requirements of the `Preferred licenses`_. + + File format example:: + + Valid-License-Identifier: ISC + SPDX-URL: https://spdx.org/licenses/ISC.html + Usage-Guide: + Usage of this license in the kernel for new code is discouraged + and it should solely be used for importing code from an already + existing project. + To use this license in source code, put the following SPDX + tag/value pair into a comment according to the placement + guidelines in the licensing rules documentation. + SPDX-License-Identifier: ISC + License-Text: + Full license text + +| + +3. _`Exceptions`: + + Some licenses can be amended with exceptions which grant certain rights + which the original license does not. These exceptions are available + from the directory:: + + LICENSES/exceptions/ + + in the kernel source tree. The files in this directory contain the full + exception text and the required `Exception Metatags`_. + + Examples:: + + LICENSES/exceptions/Linux-syscall-note + + Contains the Linux syscall exception as documented in the COPYING + file of the Linux kernel, which is used for UAPI header files. + e.g. /\* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note \*/:: + + LICENSES/exceptions/GCC-exception-2.0 + + Contains the GCC 'linking exception' which allows to link any binary + independent of its license against the compiled version of a file marked + with this exception. This is required for creating runnable executables + from source code which is not compatible with the GPL. + + _`Exception Metatags`: + + The following meta tags must be available in an exception file: + + - SPDX-Exception-Identifier: + + One exception identifier which can be used with SPDX license + identifiers. + + - SPDX-URL: + + The URL of the SPDX page which contains additional information related + to the exception. + + - SPDX-Licenses: + + A comma separated list of SPDX license identifiers for which the + exception can be used. + + - Usage-Guidance: + + Freeform text for usage advice. The text must be followed by correct + examples for the SPDX license identifiers as they should be put into + source files according to the `License identifier syntax`_ guidelines. + + - Exception-Text: + + All text after this tag is treated as the original exception text + + File format examples:: + + SPDX-Exception-Identifier: Linux-syscall-note + SPDX-URL: https://spdx.org/licenses/Linux-syscall-note.html + SPDX-Licenses: GPL-2.0, GPL-2.0+, GPL-1.0+, LGPL-2.0, LGPL-2.0+, LGPL-2.1, LGPL-2.1+ + Usage-Guidance: + This exception is used together with one of the above SPDX-Licenses + to mark user-space API (uapi) header files so they can be included + into non GPL compliant user-space application code. + To use this exception add it with the keyword WITH to one of the + identifiers in the SPDX-Licenses tag: + SPDX-License-Identifier: <SPDX-License> WITH Linux-syscall-note + Exception-Text: + Full exception text + + :: + + SPDX-Exception-Identifier: GCC-exception-2.0 + SPDX-URL: https://spdx.org/licenses/GCC-exception-2.0.html + SPDX-Licenses: GPL-2.0, GPL-2.0+ + Usage-Guidance: + The "GCC Runtime Library exception 2.0" is used together with one + of the above SPDX-Licenses for code imported from the GCC runtime + library. + To use this exception add it with the keyword WITH to one of the + identifiers in the SPDX-Licenses tag: + SPDX-License-Identifier: <SPDX-License> WITH GCC-exception-2.0 + Exception-Text: + Full exception text + + +All SPDX license identifiers and exceptions must have a corresponding file +in the LICENSE subdirectories. This is required to allow tool +verification (e.g. checkpatch.pl) and to have the licenses ready to read +and extract right from the source, which is recommended by various FOSS +organizations, e.g. the `FSFE REUSE initiative <https://reuse.software/>`_. |