Re: Bug#239952: kernel-source-2.6.4: qla2xxx contains non-free firmware
On Sat, Mar 27, 2004 at 02:24:27PM +0000, Matthew Garrett wrote:
> Hamish Moffatt wrote:
> >Perhaps we need a set of complete kernel packages in non-free then.
>
> The problem is that the GPL requires us to be able to provide the
> preferred form for modifications for the entirity of the code.
> Realistically, there's no way that the majority of this firmware is the
> preferred form for modification. As a consequence, unless we receive an
> exemption from every copyright holder in the kernel, we have no legal
> right to distribute kernel images with this firmware linked in.
I see your point, but I'm confused by one example. Intel provides the
e100 driver in the kernel source, clearly licensed under the GPL
(there's a whole copy of it in the e100 directory in the kernel tree).
Intel also provides a hex dump of new microcode for the hardware.
Clearly the hex dump isn't the preferred form of modification, but
clearly Intel intends us to be able to distribute kernel images
containing that firmware.... So where does that leave us?
Hamish
--
Hamish Moffatt VK3SB <hamish@debian.org> <hamish@cloud.net.au>
Reply to: