Intel Accused of Being an "Open Source Fraud"

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Monday October 2, 2006 @09:19PM from the you-bought-it-now-you-can't-use-it dept.

Binary-Blob writes "Kernal Trap has an article up in which some key OpenBSD developers accuse Intel of being an open source fraud. The issue stems from the prevalence of firmware 'blobs' in open source projects, and OpenBSD's reluctance to use them unless they are distributed freely and without restrictions. Leading project creator Theo de Raadt offers that Intel should follow the example of other companies in the market: 'Intel must do this firmware grant in the same way that Adaptec, Atmel, Broadcom, Cirrus Logic, Cyclades, QLogic, Ralink, and LSI and lots of other companies have granted distribution firmware to be used by others.' He concluded by requesting that the open source community contact Intel to help get them to change their policies"

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I can't see this working by RLiegh · 2006-10-02 21:35 · Score: 0, Flamebait

Seriously, look at who we're talking about. "Shaming" Intel into doing anything is about on a par with "shaming" MS into doing anything. Simply because the numbers don't add up. This is how I see this going:

The OpenBSD Userbase: Give us the hardware specifications or we'll take our business elsewhere!
Intel: There's two hundred of you, tops. Fuck off.

This is especially true since --correct me if I'm wrong-- these cards already work in Linux.

Of course, it's also obvious that Theo's "unique" brand of diplomacy does nothing to advance his case.

He has no real leverage to speak of (not when it comes to anything the siez of Intel, at least!); I realistically think he has a chance of pulling this off.