[Arm-netbook] Mali-400 driver status

[Gordan Bobic]

On 12/27/2011 06:08 PM, lkcl luke wrote:
> 2011/12/27 Henrik Nordström<henrik at henriknordstrom.net>:
>> tis 2011-12-27 klockan 00:34 +0000 skrev lkcl luke:
>>
>>>> I know GPU drivers can be a big problem.
>>>
>>>   yes.  fortunately, most of these qualify as "system libraries" and
>>> are thus exempt under the GPL.
>>
>> Well, depends on who you ask.
>
>   richard stallman.
>
>> Additionally the Linux kernel stance on shim drivers for closed source
>> userspace is that such drivers is not acceptable in the Linux kernel,
>> not strictly because of GPL but because of maintenance issues needing
>> non-free components to test the driver functions.
>
>   yep.  very sensible.
>
>>>   ok... wait... it says to _build_ a functional driver.
>>>
>>>   however, that's already been done.
>>
>> But still closed source, and probably without much of the other
>> freedoms.
>>
>> What are the redistribution terms of a binary userspace driver built
>> from those sources?
>
>   entirely dependent on the vendor / provider of that software.
>
>   you'd have to read ARM's license for MALI in this case.
>
>   l.
>
>   p.s. please do start pressurising ARM about this.  it's really not acceptable.

I'm amazed that my post poking on the ARM LinkedIn group about this got 
approved. :)

Gordan