nv driver status

Alexander E. Patrakov patrakov at ums.usu.ru
Wed Oct 18 05:33:12 PDT 2006


Alan Cox wrote:
> Shipping drivers requiring Linux kernel modules that are binary only,
> especially if shipping it with the GPL kernel is also a concern it would
> be wise to have, especially if the product is going to be available in
> countries with credible copyright enforcement.
>   
The CD contains:

1) Xorg with the "nv" and other video drivers normally available from 
xorg.freedesktop.org
2) udev rule that edits xorg.conf to use the "nv" driver if a card made 
by nvidia is found

(thus, the "nv" driver and non-tainted kernel are the defaults for 
nvidia users)

3) a README file that documents the availability of the closed-source 
driver, its drawbacks, and steps needed to install it (sh *.run)
4) a *.run file exactly as provided by nvidia (it is never executed 
automatically)
5) gcc and kernel headers, so that running that *.run file manually 
results in a working installation

So, until the user runs the *.run file, it is just an unused file, and 
distributing it on the same CD as the kernel seems to be allowed as a 
"mere aggregation". So, does this still bring up copyright concerns?

-- 
Alexander E. Patrakov



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