Linus's Linux kernel releases from 2.3.50 through the latest
test release (2.4.4-pre6) contain GPL-incompatible "firmware" images
for "EZUSB" devices in linux/drivers/usb/serial/keyspan*fw.h, which
are #included into drivers which contain GPL'ed code, even when compiled
as modules.
I believe this infringinges the copyrights of the authors
of the code used in these drivers who released their code under GPL.
Alan Cox, has gone on a campaign claiming that this is "mere aggregation"
and insists that I bring in the lawyers to prove him otherwise. I
really do not want to take this step, but he is forcing my hand. Note
that Yggdrasil is a copyright owner in this case.
To simplify removal of the offending code, I have provided
a separate user level facility that can use the USB "hot plugging"
system to automatically load that "firmware" or any other. The USB serial
maintainer already plans to switch to it in 2.5, and has tested it and
verified that it works. The software and a kernel patch to remove
the offending code is FTPable from
ftp://ftp.yggdrasil.com/pub/dist/device_control/ezusb/. The kernel patch
also moves the "whiteheat" code loading into the same user space utility,
just for technical reasons, even though that code can apparently be legally
included in the kernel. Note that even without this software, the EZUSB
firmware can apparently be loaded by other facilities or from other
operating systems.
Here is what people involved in Debian should do:
1. Make sure that no Debian release or snapshot that
includes a kernel from 2.3.50 through the current
one (don't know if there are any yet) includes
linux/drivers/usb/serial/keyspan*fw.h. By the way,
even if there were no legal liability, these files
could not be in the "free" part of Debian, if I
read the Debian Free Software "Guidelines" correctly.
2. Possibly include the user level software FTPable from
Yggdrasil, although be warned that that code will probably
be replaced in the near future to use an input file
format more compatible with other development tools used
for EZUSB 8051 microcontroller software development.
Adam J. Richter __ ______________ 4880 Stevens Creek Blvd, Suite 104
[EMAIL PROTECTED] \ / San Jose, California 95129-1034
+1 408 261-6630 | g g d r a s i l United States of America
fax +1 408 261-6631 "Free Software For The Rest Of Us."
