Open Source Summit + Embedded Linux Conference North America 2026

This session demystifies the GPL by exploring the "architecture of intent"—the deliberate design choices made by kernel maintainers that define the legal boundaries between open source code licensed under the GPL and closed source code that may interface with the Linux kernel while maintaining its own licensing. As a lawyer with a deep interest in open source software and expertise in OSS licensing and compliance, I will bridge the gap between code and copyright. My goal is to provide developers with a practical framework for navigating GPL compliance as it pertains to Linux.

This talk is designed specifically for a technical audience. It is not a dry legal lecture. Instead, it is a practical, developer-focused guide that uses code, architecture, and real-world examples to illuminate complex legal concepts. We will walk through three common scenarios where proprietary software interfaces with the Linux kernel, analyzing each from both a technical and legal perspective.

Attendees will leave with the ability to identify high-risk integration patterns and make more informed development decisions.