It's clear that there already are examples that intermingle proprietary and Open Source. The kernel has loadable modules that can be proprietary. In that case an open source OS is consuming a proprietary driver. Mozilla can load proprietary Java applets for another example.
My assumption is that the ixCOM stuff works the same way. That is, if a GPL application knows about a public interface, it could consume that public interface - even if it's implemented with a proprietary component. In other words, the GPL application is the consumer of a proprietary ixCOM component.
I know the FUD and potential embedded Linux customers are worried. Lineo, the embedded Linux guys, has recently announced a solution: ixCOM is a component object model for Linux that leverages run-time binding. This should(?) allow for worry free combinations of components with intellectual property and GPL components.
Here's a quote from Lineo's press release at the ESC in Germany:
"Lineo ixCOM technology provides a fundamental component object framework that is streamlined for embedded platforms. It not only provides the benefits of a modern component model with reusable, maintainable plug-in components, but it also has built-in intellectual property protection for licensable third party components on Linux."
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It's clear that there already are examples that intermingle proprietary and Open Source. The kernel has loadable modules that can be proprietary. In that case an open source OS is consuming a proprietary driver. Mozilla can load proprietary Java applets for another example. My assumption is that the ixCOM stuff works the same way. That is, if a GPL application knows about a public interface, it could consume that public interface - even if it's implemented with a proprietary component. In other words, the GPL application is the consumer of a proprietary ixCOM component.
I know the FUD and potential embedded Linux customers are worried. Lineo, the embedded Linux guys, has recently announced a solution: ixCOM is a component object model for Linux that leverages run-time binding. This should(?) allow for worry free combinations of components with intellectual property and GPL components. Here's a quote from Lineo's press release at the ESC in Germany: "Lineo ixCOM technology provides a fundamental component object framework that is streamlined for embedded platforms. It not only provides the benefits of a modern component model with reusable, maintainable plug-in components, but it also has built-in intellectual property protection for licensable third party components on Linux."