Messages in this thread | | | From | David Newall <> | Subject | Re: [PATCH] USB: mark USB drivers as being GPL only | Date | Wed, 06 Feb 2008 09:55:38 +1030 |
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Diego Zuccato writes: > David Newall ha scritto: >> This does, of course, >> disadvantage Linux with respect to many classes of devices, for example >> GSM transceivers when used in those parts of the world^ where regulatory >> requirements prohibit modification of power or frequency settings, which >> effectively prohibits open-source driver. > > Why "of course" ?
"Of course", because in many parts of the world, a device who's manufacturer fails to take reasonable steps to prevent it from being used outside regulatory limits is illegal. Providing source code not only is a failure to take those reasonable steps, but is quite the opposite. It may even be viewed as encouraging users to use it inappropriately.
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