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Date: Wed, 08 Jan 2003 10:46:59 -0500
From: Mark Hounschell <markh@compro.net>
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To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
Subject: Re: Why is Nvidia given GPL'd code to use in closed source drivers?
References: <Pine.LNX.4.10.10301022110580.421-100000@master.linux-ide.org> <3E1BF82B.E55C84EE@aitel.hist.no> <3E1C1971.2A2FD368@compro.net> <200301080933.42461.pollard@admin.navo.hpc.mil>
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Jesse Pollard wrote:
> 
> On Wednesday 08 January 2003 06:28 am, Mark Hounschell wrote:
> > Helge Hafting wrote:
> > > Valdis.Kletnieks@vt.edu wrote:
> > > > On Tue, 07 Jan 2003 10:08:00 +0100, Helge Hafting
> <helgehaf@aitel.hist.no>  said:
> > > > > loss.  Giving away driver code (or at least programming specs)
> > > > > wouldn't be a loss to nvidia though - because users would still
> > > > > need to buy those cards.
> > > >
> > > > It would be a major loss to nvidia *AND* its customers if it were
> > > > bankrupted in a lawsuit because it open-sourced code or specs that
> > > > contained intellectual property that belonged to somebody else.
> > >
> > > Perhaps their driver contains some IP.  But I seriously doubt the
> > > programming specs for their chips contains such secrets.  It is
> > > not as if we need the entire chip layout - it is basically
> > > things like:
> > >
> > > "To achieve effect X, write command code 0x3477 into register 5
> > > and the new coordinates into registers 75-78.  Then wait 2.03ms before
> > > attempting to access the chip again..."
> > >
> > > Something is very wrong if they _can't_ release that sort of
> > > information.
> > > Several other manufacturers have no problem with this.
> >
> > Aren't nvidias' chipsets really owned by SGI. It think there is some deal
> > nvidia has with SGI that prohibits nvidia from opening up their driver and
> > chip set info. It's looking like SGI might be gone soon. Maybe if they
> > disappear, nvidia can do what they want???
> 
> Think they sold it to Microsoft....

I think what they sold to MS was some part of "OPENGL" software not anything
hardware
related.

Mark
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