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

[Rubén Rodríguez Pérez]

First, please everyone remember to CC your messages to rms.

El dom, 16-08-2009 a las 18:42 +0200, Daniel Olivera escribió:
> Now we reject a gpl-2 software?
> 
> If this software have 4 liberties is free software.
> 
> Becuse
> 
> we can use this software
> we can access to source code
> we can change this software
> we can distribute modified copies
> 
> if this 4 liberties are in any software software is free according to
> FSF definition.


With a driver composed by a GPL'd module and a non-free firmware, you
cannot have, nor provide the four freedoms. You don't have the code for
all the required pieces, so you cannot modify it and thus you cannot
redistribute your changes. You cannot use it freely, so in fact you have
non of the four freedoms.

This kind of driver is not free software.

You don't even have the four freedoms for the GPL'd part either. As the
non-free part is hidden to you, you don't know how to modify the free
part. Many changes must match the requirements in the firmware.