[CS-FSLUG] Licenses on wireless drivers/firmware
Frank Bax
fbax at sympatico.ca
Thu Oct 28 12:20:00 CDT 2004
http://www.monkey.org/openbsd/archive/misc/0410/msg03173.html
http://www.monkey.org/openbsd/archive/misc/0410/msg03321.html
http://www.monkey.org/openbsd/archive/misc/0410/msg03336.html
http://www.monkey.org/openbsd/archive/misc/0410/msg03340.html
OpenBSD developers are trying to get licensing changed on firmware binaries
for wireless devices. Linux and BSD drivers already exist for the devices
and the firmware is found on a Windows CDROM that accompanies the
devices. The OpenBSD developers cannot include the firmware binary "blob"
as part of the OS distro without a change to the licensing. They are not
asking for release of code as open source, only free distribution of the
firmware binary blobs. It seems that many devices uses a flash chip to
store firmware, but newer wireless devices do not have such a chip and the
firmware must be downloaded onto the device. Discussions are already
taking place with three other chipset manufacturers, but not the two
biggest players. Both TI and Intel are currently not open to discussion,
so email campaign was started.
Frank
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