>From: steve szmidt <steve@szmidt.org>
>Reply-To: slug@nks.net
>To: slug@nks.net
>Subject: Re: [SLUG] Cheap'n good laptops for Linux
>Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2006 07:13:20 -0500
>
><snip>
>
>Whereas it's totally true that a laptop is harder to work on and make
>upgrades
>on, there are no laws (incl. the GPL lic.) that forbid anyone from
>installing
>binary drivers. Some people have strong feelings about it, but it's limited
>to being personal choices, not any law.
>
>Not to be confused with using copyrighted technology like GIF and MPEG
>where a
>distro face the possibility be charged a lic. fee and other legal expenses.
>Thus choosing not to use it.
>
><snip>
The GPL is not a EULA. The GPL is a set of rules for distributors, not
users. Therefore, users are free to ignore the GPL as it does not have any
bearing on those who use but do _not_ distribute the code. Once one wants to
distribute GPL-licensed code, that is when the obligations must be met.
I did not say that people are forbidden from installing binary drivers. I
said that no legal distribution will install then automatically as that
would place the distributor in violation of the kernel's license. My point
is that dealing with binary drivers complicates the installation process as
it requires additional effort on the part of the user and that this
additional workload can be avoided if one decides to use hardware that has
good free (libre) software support. The decision of whether or not to use
NVIDIA is left as an exercise to the reader :)
Jonathon
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