Messages in this thread | | | Date | Tue, 26 Oct 2004 23:14:42 +0200 | Subject | Re: HARDWARE: Open-Source-Friendly Graphics Cards -- Viable? | From | Helge Hafting <> |
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On Tue, Oct 26, 2004 at 11:44:18AM -0400, Timothy Miller wrote: > > >In general an open source video card is a great idea, however, I am a > >bit concerned about your plans to keep the FPGA code secret. I realize > >that your company wants to make a profit, > > And that is the POINT here. The question isn't whether or not we can > become a charity and give away all of our IP. The question is whether > or not it's possible to sell open-source-friendly products. Designing > and manufacturing hardware is EXPENSIVE. Especially at the volumes I > expect. > No problem with this at all. Of course, those who really want to try "open firmware" development can buy cards from you and reprogram the FPGA with a totally different and open firmware. They will then see how hard this is. And you still sell the hardware - even if they succeed to some extent.
> Also do not make the mistake of believing that software is free to > PRODUCE. If it were, then free software fans wouldn't love the GPL > which protects their investment of time from being ripped off by greedy > companies that would like to steal their work.
Well said.
Helge Hafting - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/
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