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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Linux 6.6 To Better Protect Against The Illicit Behavior Of NVIDIA's Proprietary Driver (www.phoronix.com)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Luis Chamberlain sent out the modules changes today for the Linux 6.6 merge window. Most notable with the modules update is a change that better builds up the defenses against NVIDIA's proprietary kernel driver from using GPL-only symbols. Or in other words, bits that only true open-source drivers should be utilizing and not proprietary kernel drivers like NVIDIA's default Linux driver in respecting the original kernel code author's intent.

Back in 2020 when the original defense was added, NVIDIA recommended avoiding the Linux 5.9 for the time being. They ended up having a supported driver several weeks later. It will be interesting to see this time how long Linux 6.6+ thwarts their kernel driver.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Free Software Foundation, Inc. Vs Cisco Systems Inc. disagrees. The FSF sued Linksys for violating the license for GCC, libc etc.

And they were forced in court to release all their WRT stuff under GPL, which is how OpenWRT got its start.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Just the idea of nvidia being forced to open source there drivers makes me drool in sweet winners justice.

But realistically, Nvidia feels like one of the more powerful corporations around do we stand a chance? I do hope FSF tries regardless.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Linksys was part of Cisco. They had veryy deep pockets, but the FSF & SFC prevailed regardless.

I doubt the FSF or SFC will go after Nvidia, this has been a long standing issue and I haven't heard about any lawsuits being brought because of it, even before Nvidia had more money than God.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They weren't forced to do it. They did it as part of a settlement. The outcome if they had gone to trial and lost could well have been different.

(Also how do you even violate the license for gcc while making a router?)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I don't remember the details but a lot centered around the build system IIRC.