From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S264534AbUAARst (ORCPT ); Thu, 1 Jan 2004 12:48:49 -0500 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S264536AbUAARst (ORCPT ); Thu, 1 Jan 2004 12:48:49 -0500 Received: from havoc.gtf.org ([63.247.75.124]:7869 "EHLO havoc.gtf.org") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S264534AbUAARss (ORCPT ); Thu, 1 Jan 2004 12:48:48 -0500 Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2004 12:48:45 -0500 From: Jeff Garzik To: Paul Jackson Cc: Karel Kulhav? , linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Subject: Re: Compatibility of Nvidia NVNET driver license with GPL Message-ID: <20040101174845.GB2022@gtf.org> References: <20031231073101.A474@beton.cybernet.src> <20031231211101.68ba1362.pj@sgi.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <20031231211101.68ba1362.pj@sgi.com> User-Agent: Mutt/1.3.28i Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org On Wed, Dec 31, 2003 at 09:11:01PM -0800, Paul Jackson wrote: > nVidia's _video_ drivers are mostly proprietary code that is not > specific to Linux. They provide a GPL wrapper or shim that, apparently > in the view of their lawyers, insulates their proprietary code from GPL > license terms. > > Perhaps their network software is done the same way? It's a fair argument that nVidia has significant IP in their video drivers... I understand that's where they get a fair amount of their speed. For a network driver, nVidia will have a really tough time convincing me there is useful IP in their NIC driver, or the NIC itself :) There are much more advanced NICs out there (with public docs, no less)... Jeff