[PATCH] dma-buf: Use EXPORT_SYMBOL

[Hans Verkuil]

On Thu 11 October 2012 13:36:45 Hans Verkuil wrote:
> On Thu 11 October 2012 13:34:07 Alan Cox wrote:
> > > The whole purpose of this API is to let DRM and V4L drivers share buffers for
> > > zero-copy pipelines. Unfortunately it is a fact that several popular DRM drivers
> > > are closed source. So we have a choice between keeping the export symbols GPL
> > > and forcing those closed-source drivers to make their own incompatible API,
> > > thus defeating the whole point of DMABUF, or using EXPORT_SYMBOL and letting
> > > the closed source vendors worry about the legality. They are already using such
> > > functions (at least nvidia is), so they clearly accept that risk.
> > 
> > Then they can accept the risk of ignoring EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL and
> > calling into it anyway can't they. Your argument makes no rational sense
> > of any kind.
> 
> Out of curiosity: why do we have both an EXPORT_SYMBOL and an EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL
> if there is no legal difference?
> 
> And if there is a difference between the two, then what is it?

Answering myself:

http://lwn.net/Articles/154602/