linux-kernel - Re: Open letter to Linux kernel developers (was Re: Binary Drivers)

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Message-ID: <3d57814d0701012230v2e8b31eeqef7e542d73fc08d9@mail.gmail.com>
Date:	Tue, 2 Jan 2007 16:30:49 +1000
From:	"Trent Waddington" <trent.waddington@...il.com>
To:	"Valdis.Kletnieks@...edu" <Valdis.Kletnieks@...edu>
Cc:	"Bernd Petrovitsch" <bernd@...mix.at>,
	"Erik Mouw" <erik@...ddisk-recovery.com>,
	"Giuseppe Bilotta" <bilotta78@...pop.com>,
	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: Open letter to Linux kernel developers (was Re: Binary Drivers)

On 1/2/07, Valdis.Kletnieks@...edu <Valdis.Kletnieks@...edu> wrote:
> The binary blob in question is several megabytes in size.  Now, even
> totally *ignoring* who knowingly licensed/stole/whatever IP from who,
> that *still* leaves the problem of trying to write several megabytes of
> code that doesn't infringe on anybody's IP - particularly some of those
> vague submarine patents that should have been killed on "prior art" or
> "obviousness" grounds.
>
> So tell me - how *do* you release that much code without worrying about IP
> issues?

I'm going to try really hard to ignore how flammable your response
is.. I guess I deserve it.

I think you're repeating a myth that has become a common part of
hacker lore in recent years.  It's caused by how little we know about
software patents.  The myth is that if you release source code which
violates someone's patent that is somehow worse than if you release
binaries that violate someone's patent.  This is clearly, obviously,
false.  If you're practising the invention without a license in your
source code then you're practising the invention without a license in
binaries compiled from that source code.  Period.

Nvidia are not releasing source code to their drivers for one reason:
it's not their culture.  They don't see the need.  They don't see the
benefit.

Trent
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