Re: GPL Violation?

Ian Stirling
2006-08-18T12:23:52Z

Xavier Bestel wrote:
> On Fri, 2006-08-18 at 01:26, Ian Stirling wrote:
>
>> Well...
>> The problem is that in many cases AIUI, a large entry barrier to
>> someone taking CPU A, chip B, sticking it in a box, and selling
>> it, is that there is no linux driver for chip B.
>> If you (as someone who does not make chip B) release the GPL'd
>> driver, then you're making it a fair bit easier for competitors,
>> who can now simply copy your often not very novel in any way
>> other than you thought of it first - design, and use that driver.
>
> Well, AFAIK that's *exactely* the kind of behavior the GPL was made to
> avoid. No wonder you should talk to a lawyer if you want to circumvent
> it.

Oops. I forgot to add at the end - 'of course, you should also consider
that you've saved a lot of time/money using linux..., so I'm utterly
agreeing with you/...