> > > Its complete and utter nonsense actually. The linux kernel is used in > > > closed source products all the time, it has no effect there just like it > > > > Please show us one example of a closed source Linux device. > > Sure, the broadcom wireless device inside the linksys routers. Yes, they > are "open source devices", you can get the linux distribution from linksys, > but good luck getting source for their blobs.
Another example is the Zaurus. From sharp it runs Linux. It has SD/SDIO support, but as a .o file, linked against the kernel. Sharp never published source for the SD/SDIO support. Noone even said anything about it. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of other examples, I am sorry to say. Even today the Linux kernel tree is full of non-free components, for example firmwares. Let's not talk about GPL and source and all that. Yes, there are problems there. But even more basic problems exist, because these particular firmwares don't even terms granting re-distribution rights to Linus and the other vendors! These are not just files which violate the GPL concepts their community stands for -- copyright law actually considers them to be STOLEN (because no distribution rights are granted). But don't take my word for it. Go read the debian.vote mailing list. So please don't come our lists arguying that we are breaking pseudo-rules we never made promises about, when you are coming as a representative of a community of people who break laws.
