linux-kernel - Re: Developing non-commercial drivers ?

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Message-ID: <20081119183809.GF5682@csclub.uwaterloo.ca>
Date:	Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:38:09 -0500
From:	lsorense@...lub.uwaterloo.ca (Lennart Sorensen)
To:	Fredrik Markstr?m <fredrik.markstrom@...lonenterprise.com>
Cc:	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: Developing non-commercial drivers ?

On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 05:16:44PM +0100, Fredrik Markstr?m wrote:
> Linus, others...
> 
> I'm working for as a consultant for a large hardware company porting
> Linux to their new cpu-architecture and everything is pretty much
> up and running. Now they want us to develop a closed-source (to
> protect their IP) ethernet driver for their proprietary Ethernet MAC.

Ethernet MACs are a commodity these days.  Who is dumb enough to think
their ethernet MAC needs to be protected these days?

You make an ethernet MAC... good for you.  You have not invented
anything new and amazing that needs protecting.  Really.  Get over it,
you are not that special. :)

> My question is:    Is there a fair way to do this and still comply to
> the intent and spirit of the Linux licensing ?
> 
> If yes, how ?

Probably not, but I think the real issue is the previous one.

-- 
Len Sorensen
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