Linus on binary-only modules

“The issue of whether is it permissible to load proprietary modules into the Linux kernel has always been a little unclear: is the module interface a boundary which isolates proprietary modules from the requirements of the GPL or not? In response to a discussion on the Linux Security Module hooks, Linus has posted a message on where he stands with regard to proprietary modules. ‘A vendor who distributes non-GPL modules is _not_ protected by the module interface per se, and should feel very confident that they can show in a court of law that the code is not derived.'”