Linux: Drivers Should NOT be Closed Source

Apr 20, 2009, 04:02 (0 Talkback[s])

"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."

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