linux-kernel - Re: GPL vs non-GPL device drivers

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Date:	Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:14:48 -0500
From:	Neil Horman <nhorman@...driver.com>
To:	v j <vj.linux@...il.com>
Cc:	Dave Jones <davej@...hat.com>, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: GPL vs non-GPL device drivers

On Wed, Feb 14, 2007 at 10:27:10PM -0800, v j wrote:
> On 2/14/07, Dave Jones <davej@...hat.com> wrote:
> >On Wed, Feb 14, 2007 at 09:16:28PM -0800, v j wrote:
> >
> >Welcome to three months ago.
> >Here in the future, this was deemed a non-issue.
> >However this does highlight another problem.
> >End-users who take linux for use in embedded systems (especially)
> >tend to live in their own little world rarely contributing anything
> >back to upstream, popping up occasionally when months after decisions
> >have been made on things.   Remind me again why we should care about
> >your out of tree binary only modules ?
> 
> You are right. I have not contributed anything to Linux. Except one
> small patch to the MTD code. However, I don't think that is the point
> here. I am perfectly willing to live with the way Linux is today. I am
> telling you as a user that if Linux continues on the current path it
> will become less and less attractive to Embedded Users.
> 
No, it will become less attractive to those who are so paranoid about thier own
percieved inteleectual property that they can't see the value add of sharing
their source code with the community.  Take a look at digium (to name just one
company off the top of my head).  how much has sharing their source code drivers
for their FSX/FSO cards helped them out?  The embedded people who get the model
understand what contributing buys them.  Those who don't get it, aren't of a
concern to the community, and they'll be stuck paying royalties to Wind River /
OSE / etc. .  Take your pick.

> Not everybody has to be a contributor. The reason Linux is popular is
> because of its openness. Take that away and see where it goes.
You're right.  Not everyone has to be a contributor, people can be users and not
contribute anything.  About the only thing you cannot do is develop for linux
without contributing source, and whine about it when the development model
doesn't go your way.  What exactly did you expect here?

Neil

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