Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!sun-barr!newstop!eastapps!hinode!geoff From: geoff@hinode.East.Sun.COM (Geoff Arnold @ Sun BOS - R.H. coast near the top) Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc Subject: Re: Xircom LAN adapters for laptops Message-ID: <5177@eastapps.East.Sun.COM> Date: 29 Mar 91 12:53:39 GMT References: <1991Mar28.235814.8000@rick.doc.ca> <4670@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov> Sender: news@East.Sun.COM Reply-To: geoff@east.sun.com (Geoff Arnold @ Sun BOS - R.H. coast near the top) Organization: Sun Microsystems PC-NFS Engineering Lines: 49 Quoth lanmaint@nssdcb.gsfc.nasa.gov (in <4670@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov>): #In article , nelson@sun.soe.clarkson.edu (Russ Nelson) writes... #>In article <1991Mar28.235814.8000@rick.doc.ca> andrew@calvin.doc.ca (Andrew Patrick) writes: #> I remember some discussion in this group a while ago about Xircom LAN #> adapters. #>Perhaps someone would do me the favor of telling Andrew about Xircom, #>as I am unable to do so at this moment... #Mr. Nelson (Without whom Packet drivers would probably not exist) #claims (claimed) that XIRCOM obtained his code under the conditions #of the GNU license, based their own packet driver on his code, and #then refused to release the driver source code into the public domain #(clearly a violation of the distribution conditions.) #Because of this action Mr. Nelson suggested that a boycott of XIRCOM #is in order. # #This is just a re-statement Russ's original complaint, as I understood #it. I do not know the full facts myself nor do I know for sure If #XIRCOM did as Russ claims. (Am I protecting myself legally?). #[...] #I personally support Russ's position outside my work hours as I #agree with his philosophy and appreciate all the work he has done #in support of the Packet drivers. [Insert maximum-strength non-prescription disclaimer here.] While I agree that Xircom appears to have screwed up in this respect, I find unacceptable the idea that because of this they should be boycotted forever. A boycott or similar action is usually undertaken with the aim of persuading someone to change something (a law, a product, a policy, whatever). I have asked Russ before what he actually wants Xircom to do: i.e. what action by Xircom would cause him to rescind his call for a boycott. I haven't seen any reply. I've worked with the folks from Xircom on a couple of projects, and have found them enthusiastic and reasonable people to deal with. I am inclined to attribute their actions to an over-casual reading of the GNU copyleft, possibly followed by excessively cautious legal advice. (I know that our legal group won't touch GNU with the proverbial pole.) Even if lawyers are involved, I would have thought that some reasonable compromise could be arrived at. This shouldn't be cause for a lifelong vendetta... And let me echo that comment about the work Russ has done. Everyone here in the PC-NFS group really appreciates it. [No disclaimer needed here.] -- Geoff Arnold, PC-NFS architect, Sun Microsystems. (geoff@East.Sun.COM) -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Sun Microsystems PC Distributed Systems ... -- -- ... soon to be a part of SunTech (stay tuned for details) --