Re: Intel Microcode License

[Giacomo Catenazzi <cate@student.ethz.ch>]

Henning Makholm wrote:
> 
> Scripsit Giacomo Catenazzi <cate@debian.org>
> 
> > /       installation in the BIOS or Operating System of computer systems
> > /       which include an Intel P6 family microprocessor sold or distributed
> > /       to or by you.  You are authorized to copy and install this material
> > /       on such systems.  You are not authorized to use this material for
> > /       any other purpose.
> 
> > The question: I can put the microcode loader (GPL) with the original
> > microcode (with above copyright) to the normal (free) debian section?
> 
> No; the license you quote does not permit Debian to distribute the
> code at all, since the user's computers are neither sold or distributed
> to or by Debian.

Debian is an "Operating System of computer systems which include an
Intel P6 family microprocessor".

Some other Unix have build-in a microcode loader.

> 
> > The microcode is not software, it is a processor data.
> 
> If microcode is not software, the term has changed its meaning
> significantly since my undergraduate time. Would you care to
> explain what it means today?

I never followed computer science lessons. What is really software?
(I my simple mind: software are externel program executed by CPU).


	giacomo