Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S261894AbVDESkq (ORCPT ); Tue, 5 Apr 2005 14:40:46 -0400 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S261885AbVDEShv (ORCPT ); Tue, 5 Apr 2005 14:37:51 -0400 Received: from vbo91-1-82-238-217-224.fbx.proxad.net ([82.238.217.224]:13960 "EHLO mirchusko.localnet") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S261874AbVDESeN (ORCPT ); Tue, 5 Apr 2005 14:34:13 -0400 Subject: Re: non-free firmware in kernel modules, aggregation and unclear copyright notice. From: Josselin Mouette To: linux-os@analogic.com Cc: debian-legal@lists.debian.org, debian-kernel@lists.debian.org, linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org In-Reply-To: References: <4252A821.9030506@almg.gov.br> <1112723637.4878.14.camel@mirchusko.localnet> Content-Type: multipart/signed; micalg=pgp-sha1; protocol="application/pgp-signature"; boundary="=-qqHRZrL1apuDfc2IkDx/" Date: Tue, 05 Apr 2005 20:34:05 +0200 Message-Id: <1112726045.4878.18.camel@mirchusko.localnet> Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Evolution 2.0.4 Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Content-Length: 2826 Lines: 66 --=-qqHRZrL1apuDfc2IkDx/ Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Le mardi 05 avril 2005 =C3=A0 14:17 -0400, Richard B. Johnson a =C3=A9crit = : > > You are completely missing the point. I don't care whether the firmware= s > > should be free, or whether they could be free. The fact is they are not > > free, and Debian doesn't distribute non-free software in the "main" > > archive. The fact is also that mixing them with a GPLed software gives > > an result you can't redistribute - although it seems many people > > disagree with that assertion now. >=20 > As previously explained, if I buy a screen-card I get a driver > that will allow it to run under Windows. If I extract the stuff > from that driver that allows me to run it under Linux, that > constitutes fair use. Otherwise there are criminal issues like > restraint-of-trade and similar problems for the manufacturer. > That firmware is free for use on/in the device you purchased. You are mixing free beer and free speech. Of course I'm free to use it in the device I purchased, but it is nevertheless unsuitable for the Debian main archive, where there is only free software. > > Finally, you shouldn't forget that, technically speaking, using hotplug > > for uploading the firmware is much more flexible and elegant than > > including it in the kernel. Upgrading the firmware and the module shoul= d > > be two independent operations. People who are advocating the current > > situation are refusing technical improvements just because they are > > brought by people they find convenient to call "zealots". >=20 > Throwing in a bit of truth to a pile of bullshit still leaves > the bullshit. It isn't relevant to the issue whether or not > upgrading firmware as a separate function from loading a module > is "good" or "bad". Of course it is. If the proposed solution is technically better and pleases the so-called zealots, why are you discussing it at all? --=20 .''`. Josselin Mouette /\./\ : :' : josselin.mouette@ens-lyon.org `. `' joss@debian.org `- Debian GNU/Linux -- The power of freedom --=-qqHRZrL1apuDfc2IkDx/ Content-Type: application/pgp-signature; name=signature.asc Content-Description: Ceci est une partie de message =?ISO-8859-1?Q?num=E9riquement?= =?ISO-8859-1?Q?_sign=E9e?= -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.0 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQBCUtodrSla4ddfhTMRAkx4AJwOylQjjkrLeBWM6cbjgG0HkkjEyQCgxqyZ ryHNodqy17ewFpgWyBWDYrM= =3K8D -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- --=-qqHRZrL1apuDfc2IkDx/-- - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/