Re: Developing non-commercial drivers ?

From: Dr. David Alan Gilbert
Date: Sat Nov 22 2008 - 13:48:55 EST


* Fredrik Markstr?m (fredrik.markstrom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) wrote:
> Thanks for the prompt respons.
>
> I do agree that it would be better for everyone to release it under
> GPL and I have already expressed that to our customer.
>
> At this point I feel that we have two possibilities, help our customer
> violate GPL or say no to the project. I'd prefer a third option where
> I could tell the customer that we can setup the project in a certain
> way (some "cleanroom" setup ?) to ensure that the results can not be
> considered derived work.

A 3rd option I think would be for them to put the bits that they worry about
the IP in firmware executed in a processor on the ether chip, then make
a nice clean interface that a GPL'd driver talks to.

Of course that relies on there being a suitable processor in the
chip; if not then perhaps you should remind them to think about
the software before spinning their chip!

Dave
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