Bug#226417: ITP: kernel-patch-2.4-fasttraks150 -- PROMISE FastTrak S150 TX Series Linux Drivers (for Linux 2.4)

[Sven Luther <sven.luther@wanadoo.fr>]

On Tue, Jan 06, 2004 at 09:21:08PM +0100, Raphael Bossek wrote:
> > > * License         : GPL, closed source
> > Huh?
> One part are Linux kernel sources to be compiled with the desired
> Linux sources. The second part is a binary-only library not available
> as source. The same way nVidia is doing it today for their graphic
> cards. I hope it won't become a habit for the hardware manufactures.

Well, i fear it will be more and more frequent as time pass.

Also, it is illegal to use such binary only files with GPLed modules
source, you have to add an explicit excemption, and the modules have to
declare themselves as proprietary.

Look at the unicorn package for an example of such (or at the
debian-legal archive for discussion of the unicorn package and licence).

Notice also that there is a GR proposal discussed in debian vote
actually, to simply quick such packages out of debian, which might
interest you.

Friendly,

Sven Luther