Messages in this thread | | | Date | Wed, 23 Feb 2000 17:29:33 -0800 | From | "David S. Miller" <> | Subject | Re: 2.3.48pre1: fore200e_firmware_copyright |
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Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 21:17:35 +0000 (GMT) From: Tim Waugh <tim@cyberelk.demon.co.uk>
Um.. am I missing something? It seems like this file is completely contradictory. It starts off with 'GNU GPL' and goes on with 'trade secret [...] may not be reproduced [...] prior written consent [...] All rights reserved'.
*Huh*?
Please quote the words of the copyright in it's proper context, which I will do to clear up this issue:
These microcode data are placed under the terms of the GNU General Public License.
The firmware microcode files are distributed under the GPL.
We would prefer you not to distribute modified versions of it and not to ask for assembly or other microcode source.
They are asking nicely that people not ask for the original assembly source for the microcode. If you look at the Qlogic and other pieces of firmware in the Linux kernel sources, those entities essentially feel the same way.
Copyright (c) 1995-2000 FORE Systems, Inc., as an unpublished work. This notice does not imply unrestricted or public access to these materials which are a trade secret of FORE Systems, Inc. or its subsidiaries or affiliates (together referred to as "FORE"), and which may not be reproduced, used, sold or transferred to any third party without FORE's prior written consent. All rights reserved.
FORE Systems owns the copyright.
This GPL'ing of the microcode does not imply that pieces of intellectual property of FORE Systems (such as the assembler source code from which the microcode was created) is available under similar terms.
Is it clear now? They want to GPL the source file containing the bytes of compiled microcode, but they don't want this to create a loophole which opens up the original assembler source code to this microcode. Which I think is more than fair. It allows us to have a fully GPL'd driver, and for them to protect some portion of their intellectual property.
Note, originally FORE wanted the microcode to only be available externally from their web site and not under GPL. I pushed to get the entire driver sources GPL'd and in the tree. After listening to our arguments for this, they complied. And I think this is a great thing, and I also think there is nothing wrong with their license file.
Later, David S. Miller davem@redhat.com
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