Re: Runs with Linux (tm)

Jesse Barnes
2005-12-07T18:22:46Z

On Wednesday, December 7, 2005 10:13 am, Randy.Dunlap wrote:
> > This is something I've wanted to see for years now. Linux
> > distributions do not have the motivation to work out the hardware
> > certification issues on the community level, as it interferes with
> > their value add of branding. I have always wished that when I see
> > hardware advertising Linux support that it has a meaning: open
> > source, supportable drivers. Maybe it's time to get such a project
> > moving.
>
> Yes, the problem afaict is the "works with Linux(notm)" crowd,
> e.g., those companies who see ndiswrapper as a way to say
> "works with Linux." I don't see how the Runs with Linux(tm)
> org can keep them from saying "works with Linux" and confusing
> uses with that, but IANAL. Maybe "Linux native support" or
> some such words could be used to mean your "open source,
> supportable drivers."

I think it's pretty clear that the brand would have to entail a very
specific meaning, like "drivers for this device are open source and in
the upstream kernel" or somesuch. Anything else would dilute the
meaning of a penguin sticker (or whatever it is) so much as to be
useless I think, as you point out.

Now, who's in a position to make this happen? Maybe Linux International?
(I think Maddog mentioned something like this at a Kernel Summit a few
years ago.)

Jesse