> It is imperative that all code contributed to the kernel be legitimately free software.
> For that reason, code from anonymous (or pseudonymous) contributors will not be accepted.
> All contributors are required to “sign off” on their code, stating that the code can be distributed with the kernel under the GPL.
> Code which has not been licensed as free software by its owner, or which risks creating copyright-related problems for the kernel (such as code which derives from reverse-engineering efforts lacking proper safeguards) cannot be contributed.
https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/1.Intro.html
> It is imperative that all code contributed to the kernel be legitimately free software.
> For that reason, code from anonymous (or pseudonymous) contributors will not be accepted.
> All contributors are required to “sign off” on their code, stating that the code can be distributed with the kernel under the GPL.
> Code which has not been licensed as free software by its owner, or which risks creating copyright-related problems for the kernel (such as code which derives from reverse-engineering efforts lacking proper safeguards) cannot be contributed.