On Fri, Mar 26, 2004 at 03:05:37PM +0100, Eduard Bloch wrote:
> Moin Adrian!
> Adrian Bunk schrieb am Freitag, den 26. März 2004:
>
> > > The first ones are okay, the situation is not different than PNG images
> > > distributed with GPL packages.
> >
> > Thinking your thought a bit further:
> >
> > If NVidia would release their binary-only drivers under the GPL (but
> > without source), you say they could then be included in main?
>
> You miss the point again (deliberate?). I say that IFF NVidia ships their
> drivers with DSFG-compatible source for all precompiled object files
> that are parts of the code running in the HOST system kernel, YES. But
We are not talking about cases where the source is available.
> that is not what we are talking about; this thread is about firmware
> blobs running inside of the target hardware, never touched during the
> software development. They are not MODIFIED to change the code running
> within the GPL space (kernel) so there is no need to distribute any
> pre-form of the binary blob.
Let me try to make another example to help my understanding:
A GFDL info file is considered to be non-free.
Would the same document shipped only as a JPEG under the GPL be
considered to be suitable for main since no modification is needed to
view it?
I get the point that it might be needed to make an exception for
firmware.
I still don't get the point why it is OK to say "this file is covered by
the GPL" when all it contains is compiled binary code.
> Regards,
> Eduard.
cu
Adrian
--
"Is there not promise of rain?" Ling Tan asked suddenly out
of the darkness. There had been need of rain for many days.
"Only a promise," Lao Er said.
Pearl S. Buck - Dragon Seed