[PLUG] Firmware, tainted code etc [was Re: [X-Post] [ilugd] linux-libre kernel. fork?]

[ഓം]

2008/5/29 Praveen A <pravi.a at gmail.com>:
> 2008/5/28 श्रीधर नारायण दैठणकर <ghodechhap at ghodechhap.net>:
>> Hi,
>>
>> This topic has numerous aspects e.g. an open firmware allows to boost powers
>> of wireless signals which violates FCC mandates and can cause problems. Other
>> than burrying it in binary blob(worse than a hex dump), there is no other
>> effective measure.
>
> There are vendors who provide completely Free drivers for their
> wireless chips, so this point is moot. See
> http://www.fsf.org/resources/hw/net/wireless/cards.html for a list of
> cards that has completely Free drivers.
>>
>> More importantly, tainted kernels are illegal and that is an accepted fact.
>> Just that kernel developers don't go after every tainted kernel, does not
>> make them any less legal.
>
> As Rahul already explained, it is illegal to distribute them, but
> there is no restriction on you to taint or even burn the kernel as
> long as you don't distribute it. You don't even have to agree to GPL
> if you are never going to distribute your copy to someone else - do
> whatever you want with your kernel (Freedom 0). GPL only puts
> conditions on distribution (modified or otherwise).
>

That's like indirectly saying Linux Kernel is not bound by any license!!

Thank you for clarifying about the myth!  :-)

May we have a *toast*!  Do we eat it or drink it?