In kernel-traffic, they do not talk about a proprietary module. These are actual changes that they have made to the kernel, and delivered in a consolidated fashion. If they can make their code into a module, then they would be ok, but if they distribute their enhancements as part of a monolithic kernel, then they must release the code of their enhancements, or they are in violation of the GPL. From what I have read, and I admit that I have not read that much, they are in violation. This may have been fixed in a subsequent release, but there is no mention of that. Victor On Sat, Aug 12, 2000 at 08:40:26PM -0700, Ron Heron wrote:

Hi Victor, yes - if they are producing a custom linux kernel, and not fessing up the source, then yes. But, if they are writing a proprietary driver, for their hardware, and the kernel needs the module to operate the mainboard, then I guess they got us? Seems gray area to me. I don't like it, though, and if my BP6 needed a specific distro to operate, I wouldn't buy it.

Ron --- "Victor R. Cardona" wrote:

...

Actually, they are violating the GPL. If you take something that is covered under the GPL, and add your enhancements to it. Then all of your enhancements are also covered under the GPL, and you must release the source. Now if the kernel was under the LGPL, then it might be different, but it is not. Read the GPL, it is interesting.

Victor

...

Abit BP6 - I have two, and will continue to buy as they produce.

Abit is not violating GPL, true they are just

On Fri, Aug 11, 2000 at 09:17:35PM -0700, Ron Heron wrote: plain

...

mean in keeping their software under hat, but that is their choice. Remember SB Live!?

Just what drivers do you need? I have an operational system without any special drivers.

The only way they violate GPL is if they don't ship source with the binary under a GPL license. But, there is nothing that forces GPL on anyone. They wrote it, they can license it how they choose.

Also, you can switch IDE ports, read the bios updates. You can also free up unused controller IRQ's. I don't know, just me, but I like em. --- Eduardo Carriles wrote:

...

Hi friends all,

I am serious about this:

=== BAN and BOICOT ABit, do not buy any product from them at all. ===

Despite my previous query for some feedback regarding the posibility to buy a ABit motherboard, no body did reply.

I am guilty, see my stupid post: "[SLE] IBM UDMA drive+ ABit MBoard+ TW Linux Site[??]" at:

http://lists.suse.com/archives/suse-linux-e/2000-Aug/0650.html

...

...

...

And why did i act this way??

Because i've seen a decent hardware product, and there i go, posting as mad without any previous search on the matter. Well not so good after all.

This is way i ended posting this, that otherwise

i

...

would never have done.

See Kernel Traffic #72 on "13. ABIT Violates The GPL -- Again" at:

http://kt.linuxcare.com/kernel-traffic/kt20000619_72.epl#13

...

...

...

I understand You All about not doing so!!

Just, my Personal Decision:

=== BAN and BOICOT ABit, do not buy any product

...

them at all. === === Do not post any Help regarding ABit

...

and not respond anything either === You (and me) are warned!!

ABit must learn to respect to who makes a hard work to obtain results and they generously offer to others, thing that

from products, they

...

do not have any intention to do. They only want to acumulate more and more money, earned from you. Do not help them to continue on their way.

Flame me at your will!!

Oh well, i did not put them too high after all. ---- I wrote:

...

Hi All,

FYI, as a matter of fact.

This is a Thaiwan'ish ABit MotherBoard's manufacturer, that provides [snip...]

[FACTS & CONSEQUENCES] [snip...] ** The Award Bios does NOT permit IDE Port REPOSITIONING = ** Can't invert IDE Ports and make UDMA66= IDE1+IDE2 / UDMA33=IDE3+IDE4

Stupids as you are ABit, if they could fly they could cloud the Sun.

...

[FEATURES NOT PRESENT??] [snip...]

[NEWS] Not any more down, now it's up & running!! [They state:] "We have set up this website as a sort of community and club for those

who are running GentusTM on their ABIT systems and want a place to find information from ABIT and others."

IGNORE THEM or BRING THEM TO THEIR KNEES, at your will.

...

[INMHO] They will never scale up to SuSE, they provide for ABit MBoards specifics only. No doubt that they will help some.

[SuSE] Not the grade of involvement & support that SuSE provides [#1 Linux Distro, point.!!], also they (Gentus) show a cute homepage. (also money/mass volume driven, i think, they smell it...)

Come on Gentus, you continue to VIOLATE GPL, and plainly rob the others work.

...

[GentusURL] Check'm as: "Gentus Linux" at: URL= http://www.gentus.com/

[Sofronia's favorite humble configuration] [snip...]

Bla, bla bla and more blahh.

...

[FEEDBACK, Advice, Comments Request] A load full of it, as you use to do, thanks a lot to every body!! =`8)

Kill me.

...

I'm rumbling in my head with the idea to buy one

Kill me again.

...

, but not sure that i will not prefer to buy a Intel Board, as i usually do, INMHO they are the speediest.

This i am sure of now!!

-- HTH

Best regards, Eduardo Carriles

=== message truncated ===

__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail – Free email you can access from anywhere! http://mail.yahoo.com/

-- "Let's get it straight: copyright infringement is not piracy. No one wears eye patches and cries 'Aargh!' as they download the latest Britney Spears..." -------------------------------------------------- As posted on Slashdot by Gilroy, August 8, 2000 -- To unsubscribe send e-mail to suse-linux-e-unsubscribe@suse.com For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the FAQ at http://www.suse.com/support/faq