*BSD News Article 64862


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From: wolly@icacomp.com (wolly)
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.development.apps,comp.os.linux.development.system,comp.os.linux.x,comp.os.linux.hardware,comp.os.linux.setup,comp.unix.bsd.386bsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc,comp.unix.bsd.netbsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Subject: Re: Why to not buy Matrox Millennium
Date: 28 Mar 1996 07:52:01 GMT
Organization: ..
Lines: 55
Message-ID: <4jdgf1$1ek@master.ftn.net>
References: <4j21ph$crr@slappy.cs.utexas.edu> <4j3muv$34m@cville-srv.wam.umd.edu> <4j3v64$1rq@virtech.aib.com>
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In article <4j3v64$1rq@virtech.aib.com>, dwex@aib.com says...
>
>In article <4j3muv$34m@cville-srv.wam.umd.edu>,
>Marat Fayzullin <fms@wam.umd.edu> wrote:
>>Peter F. McDermott (pmcdermo@cs.utexas.edu) wrote:
>>: Unix/Linux drivers & support for all our boards are available from X-Inside
>
//things cut out

e existing drivers. Disassemble. Take a look. If they do not
>>care about you, why should you care about their stinking industrial
>>secrets?
>>
>>Marat
>
>1) It's illegal.
>2) You will make no friends in the XFree86[TM] community by doing so.  We
>   will do all in our power to stop you.
>
>This same brain-dead logic could be applied to counterfieting - the US
>treasury wants to be the only one able to make $100 bills, so screw them,
>just make your own on a color copier.
>
>Idiots like you are what gives free software a bad name.
>
>--
>David Wexelblat             (703) 787-7700                     dwex@aib.com
>PLATINUM technology, inc    (703) 787-7720 (fax)    http://www.platinum.com
>AIB Software Lab            1145 Herndon Parkway         Herndon, VA  22070
>
>Mail regarding XFree86[TM] should be sent to <xfree86@xfree86.org>

Now now, using terminology like 'idiots' is not very constructive. 
With mixed feelings I must add that many many software licences amount
to the worst bullshit I have ever seen and you would not buy a car based
on the lack of guarantees and responsibility that these companies refuse
to accept. It is a very large problem that is ALWAYS ignored by the
media and legal 'idiots' (to use your terminology). Blanket support
of the 'laws' with respect to software is unacceptable. 

If software actually does what it is advertised to do and the company
supports it and actually has released it without major bugs then it
behooves the community to pay for it. Otherwise screw them.

Secondly, Matrox's attitude is understandable as the Linux market is not
profitable when compared to Windows. Persons venting their frustrations
are doing just that. If they start giving away dissassembled code then that
is another matter. Otherwise you have taken it far too seriously and are
making an issue of guys that are pissed off because most of the commercial
world ignores Linux. Take a breather and relax... the analogy with the US
treasure is pretty dumb when you think about it...


Regards, Wolly