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

[Alexandre Oliva]

On Aug 19, 2009, Karl Goetz <address@hidden> wrote:

> Why does the firmware load mechanism need to be disabled?

In principle, it doesn't have to.  But the way this mechanism was
designed in Linux, the kernel has to explictly decide to request some
file that happens to be known to be non-Free.

> I'd have thought leaving it enabled is more likely to encourage
> development on free alternatives (by lowering the barrier to entry
> when it comes to testing them).

That's possible, but that's a matter of convenience, that shouldn't take
precedence over ethical issues.

-- 
Alexandre Oliva, freedom fighter    http://FSFLA.org/~lxoliva/
You must be the change you wish to see in the world. -- Gandhi
Be Free! -- http://FSFLA.org/   FSF Latin America board member
Free Software Evangelist      Red Hat Brazil Compiler Engineer