"I'll try and address all of the issues that came up in the
discussion, and then if those who's comments I have removed for
being OT from the previous article want to discuss further, they
can on this entry.
"Hardware Manufacturers Need Trade Secretes for their drivers -
False, hardware is not sold because the software is good, it's sold
because the hardware is good. The loss in effectiveness and quality
that a manufacturer will suffer from keeping everything in house
will be massive as the amount of possible peer review and reuse of
other modular parts is small.
The Musings blog above states that "where some zealots believe
that people who make money selling software are somehow evil.":
Firstly hardware makers make money selling hardware, not software.
Secondly, the GPL has no issues with people making money from
selling software, it's concern is with the reciprocal freedom you
must grant to all users. There may be some reorganisation that's
required in order to make money effectively but none of these
issues effect hardware manufacturers."