On Thu, Mar 24, 2005 at 12:43:56PM -0800, Larry Doolittle wrote: > Len Sorensen wrote - > > > Do [Broadcom] provide a driver that works without a firmware file? Do they > > include sources to any firmware files required? If not they can call it > > GPL all they want, but it still won't be GPL. They wouldn't be the only > > company to make that mistake (For example Sangoma's wanpipe drivers > > claim to be GPL but have binary only modules and firmware files in > > them). > > AFAICT, binary-only firmware is OK, if that blob is redistributable. > That's why hooks to allow user-space firmware loading were added, > it keeps those blobs out of the GPL-covered binary. Not everything on > a Debian CD has to be GPL. The firmware file is "merely aggregated". > > This is the situation with my Prism54 wireless card. Supplying the > firmware from the main CPU saves the manufacturer a few bucks and > square cm of board space for the PROM, makes firmware upgrades less > tricky. The only technical downside is the few milliseconds it takes > to schlep the bits onto the card. The legal issues arise if the > manufacturer fails to license the binary for redistribution, then > Debian etc. can't put it on the general-issue CD, and the end-user > has to cajole the file from the manufacturer before they can use the > hardware. > > Binary-only modules for the main CPU are, of course, deadly.
I believe all my examples include binary only modules for the main CPU. If it is just a file to load into an fpga or other loadable device, then I don't personally have a problem with it, but some people do. Len Sorensen -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
