Atheros' motivations [WAS] Re: SV: please

[Celejar <celejar@gmail.com>]

On Wed, 6 Jun 2007 14:40:23 +0200 (MEST)
Enrique Perez-Terron <enrio@online.no> wrote:

[snip]

> My laptop has an Atheros wireless nic, and that is one of the producers that are scared about giving competitors any information, or about being sued for some patent violation. 
> 
> (A digression: I do not suggest they are actually violating any patents. The patent system has become burdened with an enormus number of undefensible patents on both the most utterly obvious, and on solidly documented prior art. Even if Atheros were to win most of the lawsuits, they could be running a considerable risk due to the low quality of the judges, and their tendency to let the parties carry their own expenses if there was the slightest doubt that the complaint was unfounded.)

Atheros' stated reason for keeping part of the driver closed is to
comply with their (and that of others, although it's not unanimous)
interpretation of FCC regulations prohibiting them from shipping
hardware that can be operated on improper frequencies, IIUC, and has
nothing to do with patents or intellectual property.  Perhaps not
everyone believes them, but I don't believe there's any reason to doubt
them, and they have been quite helpful in helping to build one of the
best wireless driver / software combinations on any platform, according
to my understanding.

[snip]

Celejar
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