Hi, I'm working on a GPL driver for ADSL USB modem driver, plagued (as appears "usual") with a firmware issue for Sagem Fast 800 Eagle-usb ADSL USB modems (and others). That similar to speedtouch or (worst) eci / connexant cases. Our team : http://wiki.eagle-usb.org/wakka.php?wiki=EagleUsbTeam
The difficulty for the end-user with drivers related to internet access is that, as long as it does not work from the start : - it's a pain to obtain support (for the user) and access information (no internet access) - it's a pain to get provided with relevant information : a simple copy/paste of actual error for support forum, as the user comes back to windoze and forgets to copy exact errors that are very useful for google search (no internet access) - it's the first contact with GNU/Linux for many of those users, as internet access is compulsory to go further most of the time (that's where you find forums, mail, irc, ... you name it...). Not possible with no easy internet access. Hence I believe it requires our GNU/Linux community having those drivers working flawlessly from the start, just after CD installation (with not yet internet access, when this firmware is required). Unfortunately our firmware's provider - Analog Devices, inc to name it (ADI) - provided us with a GPL driver (thanks to them, so that we enhanced it at http://eagle-usb.org) but without sourcecode for firmware.h and DSPcode which are sent to the modem (and used exclusively by the modem). It got even worse as they intend to distribute this firmware "freely" (which means for them "as-is, in binary form by/for anyone" in their mind - from my understanding - and far from GPL as when we ask for sourcecode they just answer "no"). Of course, debian-legal declared this situation at best contrib for driver (hence not on CD from my understanding), of course non-free for firmware. See (*very* long threads) : http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2004/10/msg00325.html (eagle-usb at first, then... well...) http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2004/10/msg00299.html (non-free firmware from the start, make you own opinion, takes 1 hour at least to read) Do not have any doubt : I nearly agree with those threads, I agree with GPL, I need a pragmatic position though => what do I do, what should I ask, what should be obtained ? (that's my central question to this mail) I would need : - first : arguments to justify / convince ADI to go GPL, as I tried to do it with http://dev.eagle-usb.org/wakka.php?wiki=DeveloppementGPL but currently got a "no" answer by Analog with https://mail.gna.org/public/eagleusb-dev/2004-11/msg00172.html (I still need some explanation on their part though... I may have overlooked some problems or not provided them with convincing information) - second : *best* licence out of worst case => should it be "2-clause BSD" as suggested ? What does it mean to make it validated by Analog's legal department ? (headers to put in the files, requirements). How could this "nearly-freely" be distributed (without the burden of asking permission...). Is public domain release available in Canada ? (this is not the case in France, for example). Binary distribution is a work-around that does not satisfy me though, as the end-user takes no benefit from it... - I'm currently quite sad : as I understood it, Analog being the only copyright holder can choose double licensing : GPL for GNU/Linux (and any other OS like *BSD or GNU/Hurd) and "anything they want for any other distribution". I would have been very happy to obtain dual-licensing, one of them being GPL (which *only* requires giving the sourcecode). Perhaps I've overlooked some possibilities or convincing arguments ? Any help / advice is welcome, I still hope to convince our current contract's managers. @++ Ben'. aka baud123
