Christer Weinigel ha scritto:
It isn't that easy. The "Tamper-Proof Torx" screws on a vacuum cleaner
or a toaster won't stop anybody from opening up the thing, I mean every
little hardware store stocks those Torx bits. But by using a slightly
odd screw, the company can say "look, we'we done all we can to stop
them, but the user bypassed our security device, and it's not our
fault".
ROFL! Well, since a lot of screwdriver types are easily available, I
don't think a judge could agree with 'em...
Apparently Intel and Atheros are trying to protect themselves
in a similar way, they Open Source everything except for the regulatory
daemon (Intel) or HAL object file (Atheros). Why? Because they belive
that if they give away the sources to those parts they do the software
equivalent of putting a normal Phillips screw in a home appliance.
(Personally I think what they are doing is ridiculous, but apparently
those companies' lawyers dont' agree).
Well, then why close the driver? Simply place the check in the firmware.
Much harder to find, since it have to run on proprietary HW. The OS
driver instead runs on standard (and usualli well-known) HW.
Keeping the screws similitude, closing the driver is more like using a
Torx, while placing checks in the FW is more like using a lock-only
screw (already seen some)...
[...]
so hiding the source really doesn't help.
Well, we all agree on this... Now we just have to make THEM agree, too...
BYtE,
Diego.
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