[GNU-linux-libre] Freedom issues with non-free firmware in external files

[Rubén Rodríguez Pérez]

There is an ongoing discussion at the FSFLA and SolAR lists[1] to decide
if the ability of the linux kernel to request non-free firmware should
be removed or changed, if  the whole drivers should be deleted, or if it
is enough to remove the offending firmware files and discourage its use.

As this issue affects all distros, and the conversation was also
generating some complaints from the list administrators, I'd like to
start a new thread here.

I'll try to summarize the ideas in a neutral way:

-Linux includes some -GPL'd- modules that load firmware files into the
devices. Most of that files are non free, and most of them are required
to get the device working. All the free distros exclude that files.

-Older linux-libre versions -still in use in several distros- remove the
non-free blobs embedded in .c and .h files. External non free firmware
files are also deleted. Other cleaned linux versions work this way.

-Newest linux-libre versions remove not only the embedded blobs, but
also the ability of the modules to request non-free firmware files.[2]

The questions that came from that include:

-Is enough to remove the non-free firmware files from the distro and
discourage its use?

-Should GPL modules that are useless without the non-free firmware files
be removed?

-Should they be kept, but disabling the file load call?

-What is enough to comply with the Guidelines for Free System
Distributions? [3]

Note that this issue was already discussed in January by Richard
Stallman, Alexandre Oliva et. al. at the linux-libre lists[4], leading
Alexandre to implement one of the discussed solutions in the linux-libre
deblobber. Other solutions are possible, so this new thread should focus
on what is _enough_ to achieve a fully free kernel.

1:
http://lists.ourproject.org/pipermail/solar-general/2009-August/
http://www.fsfla.org/pipermail/discusion/2009-August/

2:
http://www.fsfla.org/svnwiki/selibre/linux-libre/#2009-03-21 - gen2 -
2.6.28-libre1 released at [[http://www.fsf.org/associate/meetings/2009/|
Libre Planet 2009]]

3:
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html

4:
http://www.fsfla.org/pipermail/linux-libre/2009-January/thread.html