Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 21:31:39 +0100 (CET) From: Soren Schmidt <sos@freebsd.dk> To: sshoecraft@1-link.net Cc: freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: FreeBSD vs Linux, Solaris, and NT Message-ID: <200012192031.VAA61360@freebsd.dk> In-Reply-To: <000001c069f7$767b3b00$0c3084ce@max.home.org> from Steve Shoecraft at "Dec 19, 2000 01:08:31 pm"
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It seems Steve Shoecraft wrote: > > There are a number of reasons why a manufacturer can not/will not release > source code for a driver. A few that come to mind are: > > a) A device driver is a reflection of the hardware. Manufacturers in > highly competitive markets could potentially be giving away trade secrets > for their new wiz-bang technology by publishing the source code. > > b) Manufacturers license technology from other manufacturers for inclusion > into their product. The license/NDA does not allow them to disseminate the > information (either through source or documentation). c. the driver is so embarrasing they wont show it to the world This is more common than you would belive :) > EXAMPLE: I have been trying to deal with ATI recently regarding my > All-In-Wonder 128 and TV-Out. Although they have been *VERY* helpful in > giving me example source and datasheets for the R128 chipset, they cannot > give me the information on how to enable TV-Out. This is because the > ImpactTV chipset on my AIW contains technology licensed from Macrovision, > and for them (ATI) to release the information to me would breach their > agreement with Macrovision and open them up to a nice fat lawsuit. I *MAY* > have to try and get a license from Macrovision and then present my licensing > info to ATI -- and even if I did, I would not be able to distribute the > source for that component of the driver... (sigh) Well, go read the GATOS project source, they know how to switch the TVout stuff at least it works on my AIW :) -Søren To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-hackers" in the body of the message
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