Messages in this thread | | | Subject | Re: Linux GPL and binary module exception clause? | From | Dale Whitchurch <> | Date | Tue, 09 Dec 2003 09:12:29 -0500 |
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A question for this thread:
Is the GPL in effect for the kernel so that anybody can enhance the current drivers and add support for any other device? If two companies develop competing products and those products (albeit a few slight differences) perform the same operations using almost the same hardware, do we want one company to use the others driver?
In another sense, does the kernel evolve to reflect this? If the overall driver acts the same minus a few hardware differences, does the kernel source change by abstracting the similarities and allow both companies to write the device specific code? Does it instead say that both cards must have independent source code? Or do we only allow the first driver into the source tree?
There are no evil overtones in this email, nor any disgruntled developer feelings. I am just reading at this thread and asking myself, "Is the overall goal for everyone to get along?"
Dale Whitchurch
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