[linux-audio-user] Interesting Tidbit: The Midas XL8 uses Linux

[Lee Revell]

On Fri, 2006-06-09 at 20:55 -0700, Thomas Vecchione wrote:
> > Keep in mind that if you patent your hardware innovations, you're free
> > to release an open source driver and no one can rip you off - for
> > example Creative did this with the emu10k1.
> 
> 
> Considering how broken I consider the US patent system, or really the 
> idea of most software patents, this does nothing to improve my thoughts 
> on this situation.
> 

I am referring to hardware patents.

> I think making it difficult for people to write drivers for their 
> hardware to be used on Linux is a mistake.  if they consider their ideas 
> innovative enough to keep a driver closed source we may as well kiss the 
> thought goodbye, RME Fireface for example.  We arent spurring innovation 
> in that sense, we are driving it to other platforms.  Admitedly RME 
> didnt write any of their drivers, however IMO they proved they arent 
> against working with us(Linux community) but some things get taken a bit 
> far IMO.

Well, it's not really a matter of opinion, I'm just stating what the GPL
requires.  In order for this to change you'd have to relicense the
kernel.

Lee