Hi Emmanuel,
Changed the subject line, otherwise someone might
google and get a thread that is not really useful...
:)
You have a very good point regarding what GNU/Linux
is... and assuming the licence of the agrsm software
is similar to that of Lucent's LTmodem software. (The
sellouts went Lucent --> Agere --> LSI) we should be
able to pull a 'martian' on this code too (referring
to Alexei's work on the martian package for LT
winmodems)...
Now of course, the hardest part is finding someone
willing and with the time to hack and decompile the
agrmodemlib.o to document its secrets... After which
we'd need someone with C experience to write the new
code.
Bjorn.
--- Emmanuel Charpentier <emm.charpentier@xxxxxxx>
wrote:
> Le mardi 29 juillet 2008 à 08:20 -0400, Bjorn
> Wielens a écrit :
> > Hi Emannuel,
> > You're not the only one to hope that the core gets
> > pulled and separated- for one it would mean much
> less
> > of a hassle for anyone after a kernel update,
> since we
> > would have access to the module part of the code
> and
> > adjust it accordingly.
> >
> > However, by far the hardest work in this is
> figuring
> > out how to interface with the agrmodemlib.o file,
> > since this contains the subroutines to access the
> > modem hardware. The answers are all in the C files
> > distributed with the driver, but it takes someone
> with
> > a lot of free time to sort this out... or a good
> > decompiler. (Note: the agrsm license says NOTHING
> > about restrictions on reverse-engineering the
> code.)
> > The only line that would cause problems is this
> one:
> >
> > "You agree not to merge or combine any portion of
> the
> > Software with any other software, other than the
> Linux
> > operating system,
>
> Aha ! What exactly is the Linux Operating system ?
> Any GNU/Linux
> distribution? in that case, we are covered. The
> Linux kernel ? Then,
> given its modular nature, a kernel module would
> certainly qualify as a
> integral part of the said Linux kernel.
>
> The only legal snag I can see is the current trend
> of the kernel
> evolution in pulling the proprietary parts of the
> modules outside the
> main kernel tree. However, as far as I know, "binary
> blobs" are still
> OK... provided they are acted upon as "black boxes".
>
> However, IANAFL...
>
> > unless expressly permitted by
> the
> > laws of the jurisdiction where you are located.
> Any
> > portion of the Software merged or combined with
> the
> > other software will continue to be the subject of
> the
> > terms and conditions of this Agreement and you
> agree
> > to reproduce on the merged or combined portion of
> the
> > Software the copyright and other proprietary
> rights
> > notices included in the original Software."
>
> That might be managed...
>
> > @Marv, at least, I think that's what is keeping us
> > from pulling a 'martian' on the agrsm source... If
> we
> > knew the methods and calls available in the
> > agrmodemlib.o file we could easily do this, right?
>
> [ Snip... ]
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Emmanuel Charpentier
>
>
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