Re: [GNU-linux-libre] Freedom issues with non-free firmware in external files

[Mgg]

On Friday 14 August 2009 13:33:34 Rubén Rodríguez Pérez wrote:
> There is an ongoing discussion at the FSFLA and SolAR lists[1] to decide
> if the ability of the linux kernel to request non-free firmware should
> be removed or changed, if  the whole drivers should be deleted, or if it
> is enough to remove the offending firmware files and discourage its use.
>
> As this issue affects all distros, and the conversation was also
> generating some complaints from the list administrators, I'd like to
> start a new thread here.
>
> I'll try to summarize the ideas in a neutral way:
>
> -Linux includes some -GPL'd- modules that load firmware files into the
> devices. Most of that files are non free, and most of them are required
> to get the device working. All the free distros exclude that files.
>
> -Older linux-libre versions -still in use in several distros- remove the
> non-free blobs embedded in .c and .h files. External non free firmware
> files are also deleted. Other cleaned linux versions work this way.
>
> -Newest linux-libre versions remove not only the embedded blobs, but
> also the ability of the modules to request non-free firmware files.[2]
>
> The questions that came from that include:
>
> -Is enough to remove the non-free firmware files from the distro and
> discourage its use?
>
> -Should GPL modules that are useless without the non-free firmware files
> be removed?
>

I think that the GPL modules should not be removed, because if "we" have 
them, "we" can develop free GPL firmwares, "we" need the hardware to 
experiment, 

what do u think?

> -Should they be kept, but disabling the file load call?
>
> -What is enough to comply with the Guidelines for Free System
> Distributions? [3]
>
> Note that this issue was already discussed in January by Richard
> Stallman, Alexandre Oliva et. al. at the linux-libre lists[4], leading
> Alexandre to implement one of the discussed solutions in the linux-libre
> deblobber. Other solutions are possible, so this new thread should focus
> on what is _enough_ to achieve a fully free kernel.
>
> 1:
> http://lists.ourproject.org/pipermail/solar-general/2009-August/
> http://www.fsfla.org/pipermail/discusion/2009-August/
>
> 2:
> http://www.fsfla.org/svnwiki/selibre/linux-libre/#2009-03-21 - gen2 -
> 2.6.28-libre1 released at [[http://www.fsf.org/associate/meetings/2009/|
> Libre Planet 2009]]
>
> 3:
> http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html
>
> 4:
> http://www.fsfla.org/pipermail/linux-libre/2009-January/thread.html



-- 
Marcos Guglielmetti
Usuario de Musix GNU+Linux
www.musix.org.ar