112
Linux 6.6 To Better Protect Against The Illicit Behavior Of NVIDIA's Proprietary Driver
(www.phoronix.com)
this post was submitted on 30 Aug 2023
112 points (100.0% liked)
Linux
8066 readers
63 users here now
Welcome to c/linux!
Welcome to our thriving Linux community! Whether you're a seasoned Linux enthusiast or just starting your journey, we're excited to have you here. Explore, learn, and collaborate with like-minded individuals who share a passion for open-source software and the endless possibilities it offers. Together, let's dive into the world of Linux and embrace the power of freedom, customization, and innovation. Enjoy your stay and feel free to join the vibrant discussions that await you!
Rules:
-
Stay on topic: Posts and discussions should be related to Linux, open source software, and related technologies.
-
Be respectful: Treat fellow community members with respect and courtesy.
-
Quality over quantity: Share informative and thought-provoking content.
-
No spam or self-promotion: Avoid excessive self-promotion or spamming.
-
No NSFW adult content
-
Follow general lemmy guidelines.
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Hmm I don't really understand any of this. Wish this one came with an ELI5
I'm not an expert but this is what I understand from a podcast l listened to (https://twit.tv/shows/untitled-linux-show):
There's a subset of Linux users who desire or need GPL compliant environments for they purposes (personal or work related).
There's a kernel flag that is set to track if the drivers or gas loaded are also 100% GPL.
NVidia wrote their own video driver which is NOT GPL compliant, so as soon as they are loaded the kennel flag is set to "not GPL". To get around the simple checks for GPL compliant drivers, NVidia wrote a wrapper (a "condom") to lie that it was GPL-compliant when it was violating the GPL flag meaning.
The Linux 6.6 release apparently has more protections to keep NVidia from working around the GPL check. (For now...)
Interesting. I wonder why Nvidia cares.
nVidia doesn't, but lawyers do. License violations are not cool, regardless of who does it.
They must care otherwise why would they bother to hack the GPL flag. 🤷