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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Linux 6.6 To Better Protect Against The Illicit Behavior Of NVIDIA's Proprietary Driver (www.phoronix.com)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

259 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Luis Chamberlain sent out the modules changes today for the Linux 6.6 merge window. Most notable with the modules update is a change that better builds up the defenses against NVIDIA's proprietary kernel driver from using GPL-only symbols. Or in other words, bits that only true open-source drivers should be utilizing and not proprietary kernel drivers like NVIDIA's default Linux driver in respecting the original kernel code author's intent.

Back in 2020 when the original defense was added, NVIDIA recommended avoiding the Linux 5.9 for the time being. They ended up having a supported driver several weeks later. It will be interesting to see this time how long Linux 6.6+ thwarts their kernel driver.

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[–] [email protected] 88 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Then isn't the correct solution to sue Nvidia?

It's a legal issue with a legal solution.

[–] [email protected] 130 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You dont sue someone with deeper pockets than you.

[–] [email protected] 58 points 1 year ago

This is what's wrong in so many countries.

[–] [email protected] 82 points 1 year ago

Yeah probably, but Nvidia can afford lawyers and delays for years. Much longer than any oss group could afford

[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 year ago

So you want the company that licensed the patents to the Linux kernel for open source use to have to sue Nvidia for wrongly using their code? You want the company to have to spend a bunch of money suing Nvidia and possibly lose which would open the flood gates to more closed source code leeching off the Linux kernel?

Yeah that's going to make them want to keep licensing their IP to the Linux Foundation (which they're probably doing for free).

Or the maintainers can just submit a fairly simple patch to ensure that the kernel and the patents are being respected. Do you really think the first approach is the way to go?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Because sueing is never great

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

Neither is having your copyright infringed. Neither is wasting volunteer manpower playing a technical game of cat and mouse

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

apparently suing in these cases would mean having authorization from ALL contributors...