Re: [GnomeMeeting-list] Philips camera support discontinued?

[Anne Wilson <cannewilson tiscali co uk>]

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On Friday 27 Aug 2004 06:44, Johnny Strom wrote:
> Anne Wilson wrote:

> >
> > On Thursday 26 Aug 2004 22:05, PUYDT Julien wrote:
> >>pwc is GPL, and is ok to be in the kernel.
> >>pwcx is proprietary, so can't go directly in the kernel.
> >>nvidia is proprietary, so can't go directly in the kernel.
> >>
> >>nvidia uses a generic interface to be loaded in the kernel at runtime,
> >>ie: the interface happens to be there, and is widely used to get libre
> >>modules loaded too. Hence, it is an acceptable module with respect to
> >>the GPL.
> >>
> >>pwcx on the other hand, gets into the kernel using an interface that is
> >>specifically tailored for it. That is not compatible with the GPL.
> >
> > I understand all that, Snark, but it seems to me that they are saying the
> > hook has to come out because nothing else uses it.  Does that mean that
> > there is conclusive proof that everything else in the kernel is used by
> > more than one thing?  It doesn't seem likely to me.  I have no problem
> > with the fact that the pwcx part can't be in the kernel.  My problem is
> > with the kernel maintainers saying that they will make it difficult or
> > impossible for me to have it at all.
>
> Well as I see it so is there are problem to have the pwcx module as
> close source, becouse this problem that the users of pwcx have now is
> becouse of that the code is closed. There are many things that could go
> wrong with close source kernel dirvers in the case with compines so can
> they just stop the support anytime.
>
> The best thing is always to get the code free and GPL'd to avoid
> situations like this.
>
> > Of course I bow to your experience.  Maybe I'm seeing an oversimplified
> > picture?
> >
> > Anne
> > - --
> > Registered Linux User No.293302
> > Have you visited http://twiki.mdklinuxfaq.org yet?

Obviously, in an ideal world - but the world is rarely ideal.  We have to live 
with reality, though I'm all in favour of attempting to influence outcomes.

Anne
- -- 
Registered Linux User No.293302
Have you visited http://twiki.mdklinuxfaq.org yet?
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