Re: [PATCH kernel 2.6.32-rc5] pcnet_cs: add cis of PreMax PE-200 ethernet pcmcia card

[Ben Hutchings <ben@decadent.org.uk>]

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On Sun, 2009-10-25 at 11:10 +0900, Ken Kawasaki wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> >> > Random question: are CIS files copyrightable?  
> >> 
> >> The CIS contains the IRQ, ioport-range, voltage information etc
> >> like the PCI config space.
> >> So I think it is not copyrightable.
> >> but Sierra Wireless provided this CIS by GPL.
> >[...]
> 
> >If it is subject to copyright - which apparently they think it is - then
> >when redistributing under GPL we must be able to provide the 'preferred
> >form for modification'.  So that leads to the question, is this blob or
> >hex file the preferred form?
> 
> 
> (1)The CIS contains data only,
>     does not contain the code to be executed.
> (2)Sierra Wireless provided the binary of the CIS only.
> (3)These CIS are stable and does not need to be modified.
> (3)The content of the CIS can be seen by the dump_cis utility.
> 
> So if someone want to modify the CIS , I think it is OK
> to use hex editor.

That sounds reasonable.  Thanks.

Ben.

-- 
Ben Hutchings
The obvious mathematical breakthrough [to break modern encryption] would be
development of an easy way to factor large prime numbers. - Bill Gates

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