Re: [gentoo-user] Nvidia users: please sign petition for open/free drivers

On Mittwoch, 2. Januar 2008, Marzan, Richard non Unisys wrote:
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Enrico Weigelt [mailto:weigelt@×××××.de]
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 4:00 PM
> > To: gentoo-user@l.g.o
> > Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] Nvidia users: please sign petition for
> > open/free drivers
> >
> > * Neil Bothwick <neil@××××××××××.uk> wrote:
> > > On Wed, 2 Jan 2008 11:33:36 -0600, Marzan, Richard non Unisys wrote:
> > > > Keeping in mind that this petition probably might not work, I
>
> think
>
> > > > it's a good idea to let Nvidia know how many people are interested
>
> in
>
> > > > having free drivers. This might lead them to release information
>
> on
>
> > how
> >
> > > > to write drivers for their hardware.
> > >
> > > The problem with this is that Nvidia license non-free code for use
>
> in
>
> > > their drivers. They are not allowed to distribute the source, or
>
> other
>
> > > information about the code, so they have two choices for Linux
>
> drivers:
> > They could rewrite it step by step and release the rewritten parts
> > to the community. At least the kernel module, it doesn't seem to be
> > that complex (compared with the open code around it).
> >
> > cu
> > --
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> >  Enrico Weigelt    ==   metux IT service - http://www.metux.de/
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> >  Please visit the OpenSource QM Taskforce:
> >  	http://wiki.metux.de/public/OpenSource_QM_Taskforce
> >  Patches / Fixes for a lot dozens of packages in dozens of versions:
> > 	http://patches.metux.de/
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > --
> > gentoo-user@g.o mailing list
>
> It's ridiculous. I don't see how they will lose by providing documents
> on how to write drivers for their hardware. This is a simple solution
> that would not even involve them if they just gave us the specs. They
> have nothing to gain but disgruntled customers by locking people out of
> things they own.

not the hardware specs are important, the errata are important. Just ask the 
guys who wrote the open radeon drivers back then. They fighted with a lot of 
bugs, hardware bugs, that were never mentioned in 'the specs'.

And if you have enough foreign IP in your hardware you can not just open the 
documentation. You might want to ask a lawyer about it. Since you have an 
unisys adress it should be easy for you to find one who might want to explain 
to you the finer details of 'licence agreements' and all the traps and 
problems around them.
-- 
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