J.C. Roberts wrote:

quoted text
>

> You and the rest of the linux kernel devs need to realize there are a

> lot of angry people who are tired of being ignored by the powers that

> be in the GNU/FSF/GPL/SFLC. The claimed distinction between the linux

> kernel, the linux operating system, the various linux distros, the GNU

> project, the FSF, and the SFLC is pedantic at best to the rest of the

> outside world. As far as everyone else on the outside is concerned, you

> are all one large project working together.

    Lumping the FSF, the SFLC, and Linux Kernel developrs all in the

same boat is not fundimentally

    different from claiming that there is no difference between OpenBSD,

NetBSD, FreeBSD, Dragonfly,

    and on and on and on.

    Spend some time on LKML.  There are enormous cultural and viewpoint

differences just there.

    While the level of acrimony is several notches lower than here, they

are infinitely less monolithic.

    Presuming even that Linux Kernel developers speak with one voice

flies in the face of facts.

    Despite the fact that Linux uses the GPL, there is more ideological

common ground between OpenBSD and

    GNU/FSF/SFLC.  While there are distinct differences there are also

some strongly held shared principles.

    Linux development is most strongly characterized by pragmatism over

principle from the top down.

    To the extent that pragmatism is the defining principle.
    The primary offense here was the acts of a few - possibly one, Linux

developer.

    To my knowledge nothing done that Theo, Reyk or others on

OpenBSD-Misc are complaining about has

    found its way into any public linux source or repository. That was

not the case when the shoe was on the

    other foot.
    While some - including some important and influential people on

Linux lists have expressed oppinions

    that there is nothing wrong with changing Reyk's license, that is

not the same as having accepted or

    published infringing code.
    It was my understanding that the SFLC had made a specific legal

sugestion that I thought was legal but

    disengenuous, but that appears not to be the case. It appears the

SFLC is still working on the matter, so

    maligning them (or others) for an oppinion they have not issued is

pretty ethically challenged too.
    This whole legalistic who is stealing what from whom debate is

ludicrous anyway.

    Both Linux and OpenBSD developers are free to use each others work

as documentation for the hardware in question,

    and develop new drivers, firmware, ... that does not infringe. Just

as Reyk's work does not infringe on Atheros,

    any sufficiently competent developer (including Atheros, Broadcom,

..) can take Reyk's work and create something new that

    does not infringe on Reyk's.  Copyright  does not grant Atheros an

absolute monopoly in firmware for their hardware, much less

    create a similar monopoly for Reyk.
    Linux and OpenBSD developer's have two choices. 
    Strong cooperation: Agree to license their work under terms

acceptable to the each OS.
    Or
    Weak cooperation: stand aside and watch as developers from the other

OS develop their own drivers/firmware possibly

    using your work as a resource - with or without credit.
    Even the latter with significant duplication of effort would take

less time than the rhetoric that has been expended on this issue,

    or the legal time the SFLC is likely to spend.
    One of the central features - atleast as I perceived it of FOSS has

been that proprietary work, and legal roadblocks are obstacles

    to program around.
--

Dave Lynch 					  	    DLA Systems

Software Development:  				         Embedded Linux

717.627.3770 	       dhlii@dlasys.net 	  http://www.dlasys.net

fax: 1.253.369.9244 			           Cell: 1.717.587.7774

Over 25 years' experience in platforms, languages, and technologies too numerous to list.
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction."

Albert Einstein