Les Mikesell wrote:
Andy Green wrote:
>
The issue is theoretical at best. In the unlikely event that access to
a video card breaks due to undiscovered bugs in the original _and_
vendor refusal to fix it, I'd expect it to be cheaper to either replace
Linux or the card than to hire an expert to temporarily revive the
now-dead combination.
Well whatever your other complaints, I really don't think you take into
account the developer suffering that happens from the unsupported
reverse engineering aspect that is often part of the drivers.
Not only do I not take it into account, I can't understand why anyone
thinks this is desirable compared to using drivers written and
maintained by the engineers that build the hardware and have the test
equipment to diagnose it.
More than that though I myself have taken advantage of a kernel driver
blowing a panic to look through the source and fix the problem, and send
a patch describing and fixing to problem, which was accepted.
Again, this doesn't sound like a desirable scenario compared to using
something that already works.
I am on the Nvidia web page and here is there software license. Note the
differant license for Linux:
License For Customer Use of NVIDIA Software
IMPORTANT NOTICE -- READ CAREFULLY: This License For Customer Use of
NVIDIA Software ("LICENSE") is the agreement which governs use of the
software of NVIDIA Corporation and its subsidiaries (“NVIDIA”)
downloadable herefrom, including computer software and associated
printed materials ("SOFTWARE"). By downloading, installing, copying, or
otherwise using the SOFTWARE, you agree to be bound by the terms of this
LICENSE. If you do not agree to the terms of this LICENSE, do not
download the SOFTWARE.
RECITALS
Use of NVIDIA's products requires three elements: the SOFTWARE, the
hardware on a graphics controller board, and a personal computer. The
SOFTWARE is protected by copyright laws and international copyright
treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. The
SOFTWARE is not sold, and instead is only licensed for use, strictly in
accordance with this document. The hardware is protected by various
patents, and is sold, but this LICENSE does not cover that sale, since
it may not necessarily be sold as a package with the SOFTWARE. This
LICENSE sets forth the terms and conditions of the SOFTWARE LICENSE only.
1. DEFINITIONS
1.1 Customer. Customer means the entity or individual that downloads the
SOFTWARE.
2. GRANT OF LICENSE
2.1 Rights and Limitations of Grant. NVIDIA hereby grants Customer the
following non-exclusive, non-transferable right to use the SOFTWARE,
with the following limitations:
2.1.1 Rights. Customer may install and use one copy of the SOFTWARE on a
single computer, and except for making one back-up copy of the Software,
may not otherwise copy the SOFTWARE. This LICENSE of SOFTWARE may not be
shared or used concurrently on different computers.
2.1.2 Linux/FreeBSD Exception. Notwithstanding the foregoing terms of
Section 2.1.1, SOFTWARE designed exclusively for use on the Linux or
FreeBSD operating systems, or other operating systems derived from the
source code to these operating systems, may be copied and redistributed,
provided that the binary files thereof are not modified in any way
(except for unzipping of compressed files).
This is interesting I think.
--
Karl F. Larsen, AKA K5DI
Linux User
#450462 http://counter.li.org.
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