SUN has created a closed source product when it proclaims to be an open source advocate.
This product converts linux kernel drivers to a binary form that SUN uses in Solaris, thus incouraging others to use it on GPL drivers.
They also are shipping binaries of sereral GPL linux drivers ( eepro & tulip ) with or without source. This point is not clear from the article.
The problem with SUN, as I see it
SUN is encouraging hardware developers and driver writers to rely on the vast resources of the open source community to create drivers for Solaris. They are also providing a tool to encourage copyright infringement with existing drivers.
They are also encouraging hardware developers to write Linux drivers instead of Solaris drivers. This is, IMO, a good thing.
The problem with the GPL
This is legal according to the GPL, as long as the driver is loaded at run time. The GPL would have to be changed to disallow runtime linking of kernel level drivers.
A Possible Solution
A possible solution would be to add a 'Driver' Clause' to the kernel drivers that says something like: This work and Derivative works may only be linked with a Kernel licensed under a Free Software License approved by the FSF. Or something. It would probably have to be a little more technical and specific than that.
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The problem with SUN, as I see it
SUN is encouraging hardware developers and driver writers to rely on the vast resources of the open source community to create drivers for Solaris. They are also providing a tool to encourage copyright infringement with existing drivers.
They are also encouraging hardware developers to write Linux drivers instead of Solaris drivers. This is, IMO, a good thing.
The problem with the GPL
This is legal according to the GPL, as long as the driver is loaded at run time. The GPL would have to be changed to disallow runtime linking of kernel level drivers.
A Possible Solution
A possible solution would be to add a 'Driver' Clause' to the kernel drivers that says something like: This work and Derivative works may only be linked with a Kernel licensed under a Free Software License approved by the FSF. Or something. It would probably have to be a little more technical and specific than that.