Messages in this thread | | | Date | Fri, 18 Sep 1998 11:13:37 -0600 (MDT) | From | Erik Andersen <> | Subject | Re: Linux, UDI and SCO. |
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On Fri, 18 Sep 1998, Pavel Machek wrote:
> Hi! > > > The other obvious reason that SCO wants UDI to succeed is that Linux > > has tonnes of drivers and SCO does not, and SCO wants to invent some > > plausible way of leeching off the Linux drivers. > > Even with UDI, SCO can not use Linux drivers: linux drivers _have to_ > be GPL in order to link with kernel. And unless SCO is going GPL, they > can not link with GPL code... (Unless they find way to insert GPL code > as a module - that might be legal.) > > Pavel
Two issues though: 1) Why can't BSD, NPL, Artistic, and other free code be linked with the kernel? As I read the GPL, this isn't a problem, and unless I am mistaken, there are a number of linux drivers that have made use of *BSD code, which is not GPL. I think you are mistaken in your statement.
2) It is reasonable to consider a device driver running under a UDI layer as an "independent and separate works in themselves", and in that context, there is no problem using it under a non-free OS. It is just a program that runs on the OS (in kernel space), and as such it is no different then running gcc under SCO or solaris, etc. Not a problem, as long as they also distribute (or point to) the source. Remember, "mere aggregation of another work not based on the Program with the Program (or with a work based on the Program) on a volume of a storage or distribution medium does not bring the other work under the scope of this License." If we write it, they can ship it -- but it will be free, and can be fixed.
I say we have everything to gain by supporting this, and little to lose. We get binary only drivers for unsupported devices, and then when we get a free driver that is better written, everyone will use it because of the inherent advantages of a free driver.
At least that is how I read things. TRMV (Your Reading May Vary),
-Erik
-- Erik B. Andersen Web: http://www.inconnect.com/~andersen/ email: andersee@debian.org --This message was written using 73% post-consumer electrons--
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