Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:21:38 +1000 From: Da Rock <rock_on_the_web@comcen.com.au> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Why FreeBSD not popular on hardware vendors Message-ID: <1229336502.1647.27.camel@laptop2.herveybayaustralia.com.au> In-Reply-To: <20081215091146.GB57351@kokopelli.hydra> References: <20081212015814.GB32982@kokopelli.hydra> <20081212120437.B3687@wojtek.tensor.gdynia.pl> <20081212181258.GE36348@kokopelli.hydra> <ghuau9$juk$1@ger.gmane.org> <20081212203202.H4803@wojtek.tensor.gdynia.pl> <20081212150228.520ad7f8@scorpio> <20081212212552.GF37185@kokopelli.hydra> <1229230200.18610.87.camel@laptop2.herveybayaustralia.com.au> <20081215065327.GM5527@kokopelli.hydra> <1229325063.8820.5.camel@laptop1.herveybayaustralia.com.au> <20081215091146.GB57351@kokopelli.hydra>
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On Mon, 2008-12-15 at 02:11 -0700, Chad Perrin wrote: > On Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 05:11:00PM +1000, Da Rock wrote: > > > > But if I remember my legal and ethics course correctly if you can arrive > > at a conclusion through your own research then your reasonably clear. > > For example, the drivers are closed source but the hardware itself is an > > entirely separate issue. So if you can create your own drivers by your > > own research into how the hardware is setup then the drivers created > > could licensed under your own terms- open source or otherwise. > > > > The drivers and hardware may operate together but are separate items of > > creativity, therefore do not operate under the same patent. > > Be very careful. Even in the US, where there's a presumption of > innocence built into criminal law, the presumption of innocence doesn't > apply in civil court. > Well thats what they teach in university- recently too. If you can show evidence that you arrived at your own conclusion without reverse engineering then your free and clear. Keep in mind though that that IS only in theory... although I personally would consider that just.
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