----- Original Message ----- From: "Benoit PAPILLAULT" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, January 14, 2005 8:48 PM Subject: [speedtouch] Re: New Debian package, speedtouch-full
[ .. ] > > So, like baud123 said, i think it is the right time to join our effort > to make a polite request to Thomson (holder of the IP rights) to change > their license. > > At least, it should be made redistributable so your package can be > legal. The best would be some DFSG-compliant license to have the driver > in main distributions (including GNU/Debian). But that would mean that > Thomson has to release the source code as well which is a decision > beyong a simple license change. > > So far, I'm not a lawyer myself, but at least I can ask and try to get > in touch with Thomson to discuss that issue. Ideas on the process? > > Benoit PAPILLAULT > I had send a request at Speedtouch Helpdesk from speedtouch.com. You need a modem serial number to fill the form. Or I can send you the mail address from Speedtouch Helpdesk. My question was not only a request to release the firmware under the GPL but to have the right to make the consumer life simplier by allowing firmware redistribution. The first answer was classical : "First of all we do not support linux systems officially All I can do is give you a link: http://sourceforge.net/projects/speedtouchconf/ http://speedtouchconf.sourceforge.net/ " After some exchanges wich have taken some time (for example, Linux support is written in http://www.speedtouch.com/prod330.htm ), my last mail was summarised by Thomson with an except taken from Bewan license that I have send to Thomson and a recall of some arguments I have send: "In addition, as a special exception, BeWAN systems gives permission to link the code of this program with the modem SW library (modem_ant_PCI.o, modem_ant_USB.o), and distribute linked combinations including the two. You are also given permission to redistribute the modem SW library (modem_ant_PCI.o, modem_ant_USB.o) with the rest of the code. ..." This was my arguments summarised by Thomson: "Those licences allow direct use of those modems in Linux distribution supporting those hardwares and do not require from the basic user to discover Linux by starting with some criptic commands. In this case, you simply can install your driver and connect just after. We are far from this state with speedtouch usb and it is only because users needs were not the primary goal of Thomson ." The answer was (it has taken some time to be send the 17/03/2004) "After inquiring at the Thomson Engineering department the position with regards to Linux unfortunately did not change: Thomson Multimedia supports the Open Source Movement, but feels it has to protect it's Intellectual property. Therefore, the drivers are only partially Open Source. There is a open source kernel-module (GPL) and a closed source management application. The management application is distributed as a binary and contains the firmware. " Liste de diffusion modem ALCATEL SpeedTouch USB Pour se d�sinscrire : mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
