Re: [LONG RANT] Re: Linux stifles innovation...

[Werner Almesberger <Werner.Almesberger@epfl.ch>]

Henning P. Schmiedehausen wrote:
> Company wants to make at least some bucks with their
> products and the driver is part of the product. So they may want to
> release a driver which is "closed source".

Usually, the driver doesn't play a large role in product differentiation,
at least not in a positive way. Also, we must balance the value
closed-sourcing the driver may have for a company, against the damage
this does to Linux development.

Now what's at stake ? Look at the Windows world. Also there, companies
could release their drivers as Open Source. Quick, how many do this ?
Almost none. So, given the choice, most companies have defaulted to
closed source. Consistently complaining when a company tries to release
only closed source drivers for Linux seems to generally have the desired
effect of making them change their policy.

So if we'd follow your line of reasoning, we'd end up with almost all
drivers being closed-source. Since drivers are an essential part of any
Linux kernel, this would essentially mean that all of the Linux kernel
would be subjected to the constraints of closed-source development.

Fine. So you've reinvented AIX, HP-UX, SCO, etc. The question is what
you expect from Linux. After all, you strongly disagree with the main
common denominator of Linux developers, that it be Open Source.

- Werner

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