"Licensed" codecs

[Alan Cox]

> > Consult a lawyer. The definition of 'derivative' is complicated to say the least. 
> > For actual GPL code the GPL itself deliberately takes a "free nor not at all"
> > approach.
> 
> There exist non-GPLd kernel modules, though (NVIDIA drivers,etc...). Do
> you want to say that they are illegal?

As I said consult a lawyer. A body of people including the FSF certainly
believe they are.